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Commonwealth Games: West Coast Fever star Jhaniele Fowler stars as Jamaica upsets Australia

Steve JanceticAAP
Jamaica players celebrate an upset victory over world No.1 Australia in Commonwealth games netball. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Camera IconJamaica players celebrate an upset victory over world No.1 Australia in Commonwealth games netball. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

West Coast Fever star Jhaniele Fowler has inspired Jamaica to a stunning 57-55 upset of netball world No.1 Australia to snatch top spot in their pool at the Commonwealth Games.

Down by six goals heading into the last quarter, Jamaica came storming back before a raucous NEC Arena crowd with Fowler - the four-time Super Netball MVP with Fever - unstoppable.

Fowler finished with 47 goals from 50 attempts, with the defeat leaving the Diamonds to now face the winner of Thursday night’s final preliminary match between England and New Zealand in Saturday’s semis for the right to advance to the gold medal game.

Australia’s two-pronged attack of Gretel Bueta (36 from 39) and Steph Wood (19 from 22) did all they could to get Australia home, but costly turnovers brought the Diamonds undone.

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Jhaniele Fowler holds the ball away from West Coast Fever teammate Courtney Bruce.
Camera IconJhaniele Fowler holds the ball away from West Coast Fever teammate Courtney Bruce. Credit: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Fowler was unstoppable for Jamaica, Australia with no-one to counter her size and strength.

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Jamaica’s gameplan was evident from the outset, get the ball to Fowler early and often, and by whatever means necessary.

It turned the centre third into a battleground as players hit the deck on numerous occasions.

The Aussies had not lost a single quarter all Games, but on the back of Fowler doing what she wanted, they jumped out to a 7-3 lead.

The Diamonds worked their way back into it with Bueta matching Fowler’s 10 first-quarter goals as they took a one-goal lead to the first break.

Jhaniele Fowler scores during their Netball Pool A match between Team Australia and Team Jamaica.
Camera IconJhaniele Fowler scores during their Netball Pool A match between Team Australia and Team Jamaica. Credit: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Australia started imposing themselves in the second quarter as they opened up 27-23 lead, but to the delight of the crowd, Jamaica stormed home to get within one at the long break.

The third quarter was all Australia as they jumped out to a six-goal lead before Jamaica’s late surge.

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