New Zealand – 55 Australia - 58
FULLTIME - The Kiwis won three of four quarters but it was a lack of intensity to start that caught up with them at the end, Australia make it a triple crown. Click above for video highlights.
4th quarter:
15 mins - Aus with multiple passes as they wind down the lock, Bassett at the end of it. Tutaia from long range again but it's all academic.
14 mins - Mes hits, is it too little too late now? Bassett with a rare miss, NZ with a sniff. Tutaia cuts it to 3.
12 mins - Aus playing the possession as long as possible, Medhurst eventually nets it. Tutaia from deep again.
11 mins - Tutaia goes to 33/48, time ticking away fast for the Ferns. Bassett makes it 45/48.
10 mins - Tutaia miss hauled in by Mes, she's rebounded the house down today. Hits the putback. Need defensive stops now the Ferns but Aus just too clinical in the circle.
8 mins - Costly turnover from Langman, Aus make no mistake. Bassett unstoppable in the low post.Tutaia hits, Medhurst goes to 10/10.
6 mins - Aus aware that all they need is to make shots off their own centre pass. Bassett nothing but close range bunnies. Tutaia from deep on the baseline.
4 mins - Bassett gets a break, looked to have dropped it cold but the umpire gets her a reprieve. Tutaia rims one out and it's mes on the spot again, puts it back in.
3 mins - Mes hustling hard on the rebound again, turns the miss into a make. Medhurst takes her tally to 7/7.
2 min - Tutaia gets NZ on the board first, comes back and drops another one from mid-range.
3rd quarter:
15 mins - Tutaia continues to stroke all manner of deep bombs. Bassett getting much easier looks at her end. Held ball against NZ, big call. Langman interception but they can't get it into the circle before the clock runs out. Another quarter goes NZ's way but the deficit remains six.
13 mins - Mes with yet another rebound off the Tutaia miss, puts it back to cut it to five.
10 mins - NZ going goal for goal with Aus but they need to start taking some risks on defense in order to pull back this lead. Tutaia rolls one in with the shooter's touch. Langman interception, Tutaia sinks the straight-away shot. Mes skies for a monster offensive rebound and hits. Now Bassett steps out of bounds, some momentum going NZ's way.
8 mins - Mes pulls the gap back to six. Bassett pump-fakes, draws the foul then hits. Tutaia pass intercepted by the lengthy arms of Geitz. Mes pulls in an offensive board but steps out of bounds. Medhurst sinks one from under the basket.
5 mins - Ferns defense struggling to contain the Medhurst/Bassett combination. Tutaia hits one, Kopua with the steal and they're back on the offensive. Tutaia drills another from long range.
2 mins - Bassett gets the first goal of the second half. Langman gets hit hard in the air by Geitz, bounces back to her feet. Tutaia hits one, Mes can't convert but taps back her own rebound, slots the second effort. Repeats the dose next trip up court.
Second half underway...
HALFTIME - Big first half for the defending champs but Maria Tutaia is keeping NZ in the contest with her shooting from deep, 15-21 so far, most from the edge of the circle.
2nd quarter:
15 mins - Tutaia making it rain from deep, keeping NZ in this contest. Lovely one-two for Bassett. Tutaia slots one at the buzzer. NZ win the quarter 15-14.
12 mins - Tutaia from downtown yet again. Bassett gets crunched into the post, then straightens to slot the goal. Kopua scraps for a break with the intercept, Mes converts. Mes contests strongly for the offensive rebound, pulls another back.
9 mins - Daunting ten goal deficit for the Ferns. Langman pass intercepted, quickly converted into another Bassett goal. Tutaia hits another from long range, making some difficult shots as NZ struggle to get good looks at the basket.
6 mins - Langman too long on the pass, she's been hesitant thus far. Lovely three-man play sees Mes score.
4 mins - Geitz with another deflection, Bassett can't make a tough shot. Geitz out fakes Tutaia on her shot and draws the turnover.
2 mins - Bassett moves to 14/14. Tutaia pulls one back from deep. Kopua with a monster board as Bassett finally misses. NZ cash in through Tutaia.
1st quarter:
15 mins - Tutaia from long range, can't get it to drop. The NZ shooters struggling, a combined 7/13. Make it 7/14 as Tutaia misses the mark. Huge first quarter for Australia, they've stamped their mark on this one immediately.
13 mins - Best trip up the court so far for NZ but Mes can't make the gimme. Geitz terrorising on defense, Bassett continues her 100% record from the field, now 12/12. Geitz with the rejection from behind on the Tutaia shot.
10 mins - Bassett makes it a six goal buffer, she's a perfect 9/9 from the field thus far. Mes grabs the offensive rebound for another putback. 10/10 for Bassett, Geitz deflects a pass out of bounds. Tutaia good from the baseline. Medhurst splashes home a rainbow over Kopua.
7 mins - Geitz getting niggly early, throwing 'bows as she grabs a defensive board from the Mes miss. Bassett getting everything she wants at the front of the basket. Another Aus interception, Geitz involved again. Fumbles both ways, Bassett wide open under the basket again. Time out NZ.
5 mins - Tutaia aggressive going for the intercept, ends up entangled on the court with her opposite number. Mes soars to haul in the offensive rebound from a Tutaia miss and put it back in the net.
3 mins - Aus with the first intercept, but NZ return the favour. A sloppy pass sees it back in Aus hands. Medhurst hits back to back.
1 min - Langman gets us started, Tutaia on the mark from right in front early. Follows up wit another from a tough angle. Great ball inside to Bassett, Aussie patient on offense. Mes gets off the mark.
We're underway...
5:18pm - The players are on the court, here we go!
5:13pm - The excitement starting to build at the AllPhones Arena as the players take their places courtside. The messages of support from around the country have been flowing in today, if you missed it earlier check them all out here.
Commentary will start from around 5pm. In the meantime check out the video above for a preview of this afternoon's final with Ashlee Tulloch and Katarina Williams.
Head to head:
New Zealand - $2.90 Australia - $1.37
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Pre-match banter:
NETBALL WORLD CUP FINAL - AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND
Sunday August 16, 3.20pm (AEST) in Sydney, Australia
World rankings - Australia: No.1, New Zealand: No.2
Best World Cup finish - Australia: Winner 10 times (1963, 1971, 1975, 1979 (jointly), 1983, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2011), New Zealand: Winner 4 times (1967, 1979 (jointly), 1987, 2003)
Head-to-head record - 121 meetings, Australia 74 wins, New Zealand 45 wins, 2 draws
Last five meetings:
2015 - Australia 47-52 New Zealand - August 9, Sydney, Australia
2014 - Australia 51-47 New Zealand - October 15, Auckland, New Zealand
2014 - Australia 47-34 New Zealand - October 11, Sydney, Australia
2014 - Australia 49-40 New Zealand - October 8, Melbourne, Australia
2014 - Australia 59-42 New Zealand - October 2, Invercargill, New Zealand
AUSTRALIA
*Key players:
Kim Ravaillion - Unquestionably the fittest player on the court, the tireless Ravaillion can last the 60 minutes barely out of breath. One of Australia's key playmakers, who not only defends well but sets up goals with her sharp passing.
Natalie Medhurst - Compliments shooter Caitlin Bassett brilliantly up front, consistently contributing a high number of goal assists while also sinking a fair amount herself - including a few signature mid-range shots.
*Path to final - Australia qualified second in Pool A (preliminary round) and first in Pool F (qualifying round)
Preliminary-round results:
Australia 73-32 Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados 16-83 Australia
Australia 47-52 New Zealand
Qualifying-round results:
Australia 51-48 England
Australia 66-31 South Africa
Australia 89-24 Wales
Semi-final:
Australia 67-56 Jamaica
NEW ZEALAND
*Key players:
Maria Tutaia - The queen of the long-range shot, experienced goal attack Tutaia is near impossible to stop as soon as she has possession in the circle. Combines beautifully with shooter Bailey Mes for an intimidating and mobile attack.
Kayla Cullen - Crucial in combination with formidable centre Laura Langman, wing defence Cullen is a master at shutting down her midcourt opponent. She has the crucial task of stopping Diamonds wing attack Kim Green feeding her shooters.
*Path to semi-finals - New Zealand qualified first in Pool A (preliminary round) and first in Pool E (qualifying round)
Preliminary-round results:
New Zealand 73 - 28 Barbados
Trinidad and Tobago 38-74 New Zealand
Australia 47-52 New Zealand
Qualifying-round results:
New Zealand 55-48 Jamaica
New Zealand 57-49 Malawi
New Zealand 76-33 Uganda
Semi-final:
New Zealand 50-39 England