Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls defeated South Africa 55-47 in the first game of the three-match Magaret Beckford series at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on Saturday.

Jamaica were led by player-of-the-match Shimona Jok (nee Nelson) who scored 38 goals from 39 attempts.

Shanice Beckford added 11 goals from 12 attempts and substitutes Rhea Dixon and Simon Gord three goals each from four attempts.

Goal shooter Rolene Struetker netted 17 from 18 attempts, Elmere Van Der Bere netted 18 from 20 attempts and Kamagelo Maseko scored eight goals for South Africa.

The two teams were tied 12-12 after the first quarter before the Sunshine Girls put their foot on the gas to lead 29 – 23 at halftime. At the end of the third quarter, the Jamaicans held a 42-35 lead.

In the curtain raiser, South Africa’s Under-21 plummetted their Jamaican counterparts 61-31 on the back of 44 goals from 48 attempts from Giada Prinsloo and 18 from 13 attempts for Michelle Van Der Merwe.

Kellian Hunter responded for Jamaica with 16 goals from 20 attempts and Nickiesha Powell with 10 goals from 11 attempts.

South Africa ran out easy winners after a poor display from the Jamaicans in which they scored only four goals in the third quarter and six in the fourth quarter. The quarters were 11-13; 21-29; 25-47 and 31-61.