Netball: Silver Ferns remain unbeaten at Nations Cup, routing Jamaica

The Silver Ferns remain unbeaten at the Nations Cup after an emphatic 71-45 win over Jamaica in Birmingham on Thursday (NZ time).

Shooter Maia Wilson led the way with a career-high 42 goals, while captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Te Paea Selby-Rickit chipped in with 18 and 11 respectively. 

The Ferns headed into the match having lost their last three encounters to the 'Sunshine Girls', including the bronze medal match at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which Jamaica won 60-55. 

After beating England 64-48 in their Nations Cup opener in Nottingham on Monday, Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua named an unchanged starting lineup, which paid off despite a slow start. 

Jamaica jumped out to an early lead on the back of some great shooting by Jhaniele Fowler, but New Zealand eventually fought their way back to lead 18-11 at quarter time.   

Jamaica opened the term with a 9-4 run to cut the lead to just two points midway through the quarter.

But the Sunshine Girls only managed to score two more goals in the rest of the quarter, as the Ferns found themselves leading 32-22 at halftime. 

The Ferns stamped their authority on the match in the third quarter, limiting Jamaica to nine goals and holding a 51-31 lead heading into the final quarter. 

With the result beyond doubt, Taurua was able to give her extended squad members game time. 

New Zealand pulled away even more in the final stanza and eventually came away with a 26-goal win, their biggest win since beating Northern Ireland at last year's Netball World Cup. 

The Ferns are missing 562 test caps worth of experience from the self-titled 'Fossils' core of Laura Langman and defender Katrina Rore - both taking a break - and shooter Maria Folau and defender Casey Kopua, who have both retired since last year's World Cup triumph. 

Meanwhile, England registered their first win of the Nations Cup, beating South Africa 58-54. 

The Ferns play South Africa in London on Sunday (3:30am NZ time), with the Nations Cup final the following day on Monday. 

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