JAMAICA’s Sunshine Girls and world champions Australia played to a 49-49 draw, the fourth in the history of the teams, in an edge-of-your-seat contest in the second game of the Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) last evening.

The teams switched leads several times in a ding-dong encounter as the Jamaicans led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter before the Australians pulled level 24-24 at the end of the second.

Jamaica regained the lead 37-36 at the end of the third quarter before the thrilling final 15 minutes.

Both Australia coach Norma Plummer and her Jamaican counterpart Connie Francis used the opportunity to test the waters with several newcomers. Kameika Sherwood made her debut in the wing defence position for the Jamaicans, Kate Beveridge started in the shooting position, and Laura Getz and Lauren Nourse started in mid-court for the Diamonds.

The home team took a slim one-point lead at the outset, but didn’t hold on to it for long as the Australians soon came bounding back, edging past the Sunshine Girls to go two goals up.

Sherwood, however, seemed intent on sealing her spot on the national team to Singapore this July, making a quick interception to help the Jamaicans retake the lead at 8-7.

The Sunshine Girls held the lead for the remainder of the first quarter as Sherwood and goal defence Malysha Kelly made a stellar team in the defending third, while one stole a pass, the other was there to direct it swiftly into the Jamaican attacking third as the Sunshine Girls built their lead at the end of the quarter.

Marsha Murphy was brought in to substitute for goal attack Simone Forbes, while Althea Byfield took over as keeper at the beginning of the second quarter, a change which made a visible difference early out as the Australians quickly pulled back a point.

The Jamaicans managed to regain the momentum keeping the visitors under pressure as they started to notch up unforced errors, a rarity for the world champions.

Close to the end the half they took advantage of some sloppy passing on the part of the Jamaicans and levelled the score at 24.

The teams turned up the heat at the start of the second half as the Jamaicans re-established their lead at the end of the third quarter.

The noise inside the National Indoor Sports Centre became almost deafening as spectators urged the Sunshine Girls on after the visitors took a two-point lead and held onto it for most of the final quarter.

In the final seconds Australia pulled level to leave the series undecided ahead of tomorrow’s final game at the same venue.

Australia won the first game 63-51.