Australia has defeated England 61-45 to win the Netball World Cup for the 12th time and emphatically cement their status as the world’s best team.
The score was tied 13-13 at quarter time but the Diamonds dominated the remainder of the World Cup final to claim a comfortable win over the Roses on Monday morning
Coach Stacey Marinkovich gave Sophie Garbin plenty of court time as a goal shooter and she finished with 27 goals from 33 attempts, while Cara Koenen had a perfect 10/10 in the first quarter.
It was an absolute clinic from the Diamonds, who capitalised on a 19-13 third quarter to run away with a 16-goal victory — their second-biggest win in World Cup history.
This World Cup was tipped to be the hardest yet, with rising powerhouse Jamaica joining New Zealand, England and South Africa as contenders.
Malawi gave Australia a scare early on in the tournament before England defeated the Diamonds 56-55 in the second preliminary stage.
But Just like at last year’s Commonwealth Games, the Diamonds bounced back to beat the team they lost to in the preliminary stages in the final.
In Birmingham, it was Jamaica, this time in Cape Town it was England.
Australia passed their toughest test in the semi-finals against Jamaica, who threw everything at the Diamonds but came up just three goals short.
The win in the final was redemption for Australia after they lost the 2019 decider by just one goal to New Zealand in a heartbreaking result.
The Aussies now hold every trophy available in netball after going on an absolute tear in the last cycle — winning Commonwealth Games gold, reclaiming the Constellation Cup, defeating England and winning the Quad Series.
It’s also vindication for Marinkovich, who was appointed Diamonds coach after the departure of long-term coach Lisa Alexander in 2020.
Marinkovich juggled the difficult goal-shooter selection dilemma well given the dynamic Gretel Bueta is expecting a baby and was unavailable for selection.