The Diamonds are through to the gold medal match against England tomorrow afternoon after a 65-44 victory over New Zealand.
It was an unfamiliar site for netball fans as the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds meet for the first time in a semifinal.
Since the introduction of netball at the Commonwealth Games in 1998, New Zealand and Australia have always battled it out for the gold medal.
Australia came into the match unbeaten and topping Pool B while New Zealand had to touch losses at the hands of Malawi and England, which saw them come runner-up in their Pool.
The Diamonds strolled out to an early six goal lead after the first quarter and never looked back.
🇦🇺 Australia lead 🇳🇿 New Zealand 18-12 at the end of the first. Great start by the @AussieDiamonds. #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/pqxHlRZ6ak
— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 14, 2018
By halftime, the Diamonds had extended their lead to 11 goals.
Australia was dominant across the court with captain Caitlin Bassett and Susan Pettitt keeping their goal-scoring partnership strong, only missing one each in the opening half.
Liz Watson came on during the second quarter to replace Kimberley Ravaillion.
Terrific opening half for the 🇦🇺 @AussieDiamonds. They lead New Zealand 32-21. Remember, the winner goes into the Gold medal match.#GC2018 pic.twitter.com/A7GyxxIQxf
— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 14, 2018
Coach Lisa Alexander made three changes at halftime with Caitlin Thwaites and Steph Wood came into attack while Courtney Bruce was put in at goal defence.
The Thwaites and Wood combination saw the Diamonds only missing three shots out of the 20 they attempted.
In the final quarter, April Brandley was brought into the mix and gave Gabi Simpson a break from the wing defence role while Watson switched to wing attack and Ravaillion back at centre.
The @AussieDiamonds ball movement is outstanding! They look like they're on
— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 14, 2018
their way to the Gold medal match. 💪👏#MakeItEpic #WithGalaxy @SamsungAU pic.twitter.com/19wsSOuyqh
It was all but over for the Silver Ferns as halfway through the final quarter the Diamonds extended their lead to 22 goals.
In the earlier game, England progressed to their first ever gold medal match in dramatic fashion against Jamaica.
Jamaica led England by eight points at halftime but England crawled their way back into the match and right as the siren was about to sound, they scored to give themselves a one-point victory.
.@EnglandNetball have made the 🥇match for the first time ever of a Commonwealth Games. They beat Jamaica in the last second of the game 56-55 #GC2018Netball #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/LKNiJDB84L
— More from The Women's Game (@MoreWomensGame) April 14, 2018
The Diamonds take on England tomorrow at 1:02pm with the bronze medal match between New Zealand and Jamaica on at 11:02am.
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