KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls scored a sensational one goal 46-45 win over defending champions and world number one ranked Australia in Saturday’s semi-final of the netball competition at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The win was revenge for an equally close loss in the final four years ago in Birmingham, UK and saw the Jamaicans qualify for back-to-back finals.

In Sunday’s final, Jamaica will face New Zealand in a rematch of their Pool B game earlier this week which the Kiwis won 53-48.

New Zealand beat England 61-54 in their semi-final game.

The Sunshine Girls, who snapped Australia’s undefeated run in the competition, led by three goals after the first quarter, 13-10, and held on doggedly despite Australia scoring the last three goals of the game, with Sophie Dwyer missing two attempts in the final two minutes of play.

Jamaica led 23-21 at the half but Australia tied up the scores 35-all going into the fourth quarter before taking the lead 38-37 early in the fourth.

Romelda Aiken-George led the Jamaican scoring with 29 goals from 32 attempts and Shanice Beckford scored 17 from 18 attempts.

Kiera Austin scored 22 goals from 23 attempts, Cora Koenen scored 18 goals from 20 attempts, Sophie Garbin scored four goals and Dwyer one goal.

— Paul A Reid

The Sunshine Girls celebrate after reaching the finals of the Commonwealth Games (Photo: Hayley Bavin via Commonwealth Games Glasgow)

The Sunshine Girls celebrate after reaching the finals of the Commonwealth Games (Photo: Hayley Bavin via Commonwealth Games Glasgow)