Diamonds shine after quick reality check
AUSTRALIAN coach Lisa Alexander says giant-killing Malawi have done the Diamonds a favour.
Malawi’s stunning 57-53 victory over New Zealand on Sunday night was the biggest upset in Games netball history and also doubled as a not-sosubtle alert to Australia that they should keep the pedal to the metal regardless of their opposition.
And that’s what the Diamonds did yesterday when they smashed injury-hit minnow Fiji in a 108-23 cakewalk at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. It was the thirdbiggest score since netball was introduced to the Games in 1998, and the first time since a pool game against host nation India at the 2010 Games that Australia had surpassed 100 goals in a match.
The Diamonds played South Africa directly after Malawi’s shock win and Alexander took the opportunity to issue a reality check to her troops.
“(Upset wins) are always good reminders,’’ she said.
“It happened just before our game and we reminded everyone in the team that the same thing could have happened to us had we allowed South Africa any sort of sniff at all.’’
Australia maintained the rage yesterday as they scored three goals in the first 45 seconds of the Pool A mismatch.
Australia proceeded to race to a 32-7 lead at the first break, their 32 goals the highest score from any team in any quarter during the tournament.
Captain Caitlin Bassett finished with 40 goals for Austra- lia while Caitlin Thwaites added 30 for the Diamonds. Australia have destroyed all before them in their first four pool games with a combined total of 341 goals to 111 from their opponents – Northern Ireland, Barbados, South Africa and Fiji. Alexander said the depth of talent in the Diamonds squad had surpassed her expectations. “We probably didn’t realise the strength of the 12 to the extent that has been expressed out there so far,’’ she said. Australia will face its toughest test of the pool matches when they take on Jamaica tomorrow night.