BARBADOS looks set to join Trinidad & Tobago as the two Americas nations through to the 2023 Netball World Cup after beating the Bajan Gems two biggest threats for the spot on day four of the Qualifiers. In another action-packed day of eight games, Barbados defeated both Grenada and St Vincent & The Grenadines, who look likely to finish fourth and fifth in the tournament.

It was the biggest day of the tournament for all the nations, with Barbados still remaining undefeated, but ultimately the Bajan Gems had to see off both their opponents to ensure they were going through with just the top two nations – Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago as the remaining threats. Against St Vincent & The Grenadines, the 2019 Netball World Cup representatives found themselves down by two goals, before Barbados got back on top to take control in the second term and enter half-time with a five-goal buffer, 25-20.

Barbados continued to step up after half-time to win the third term by 12 goals and effectively seal the victory, before running out 21-goal winners, 57-36 in a memorable performance. It served them safe passage through to Cape Town, with Barbados having a near-identical performance against Grenada earlier in the day. In that contest, the Bajan Gems got up by 22 goals, triumphing 60-38 as Jamaica made light work of Antigua & Barbuda on the other court.

Jamaica did not find it easy from the get-go with Antigua & Barbuda going toe-for-toe in the opening five minutes of the match, before putting the foot down and blowing away its opponents. By the end of the quarter the Sunshine Girls had increased the lead to double-digits, and by half-time that margin was out to 25 goals. Jamaica completely dominated the second half of the match, restricting its opponents to just eight goals, while piling on 40 itself once again to run away 80-23 victors.

Later in the day, Jamaica was wrapping up a good win over a gallant Grenada, defeating its opponent by 26 goals, 74-48. The victory all but guaranteed the World Cup Qualifiers for another campaign, with Trinidad & Tobago taking care of business against the USA later on. The United States got better with each game and that continued against the Calypso Girls, only conceding 43 goals in a great defensive effort. Still, Trinidad & Tobago had the experience on the Central Americans, securing the two points with a 43-27 victory.

The Calypso Girls had a much easier task earlier in the day with a thumping 60-21 win over Cayman Islands. Trinidad & Tobago heads into day five undefeated from six games and on top of the ladder, through the Cayman Islands did have better luck later in the day. In a battle between two winless sides who were thrashed earlier by the two highest ranked nations, Cayman Islands knocked off Antigua & Barbuda by five goals, winning a thriller, 47-42. In the other match, USA toppled St Lucia to look set to finish sixth overall and improve its world ranking.

Three days remain in the World Cup Americas Qualifiers, with the huge clash between Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados coming up today. Also in day five action, Jamaica takes on St Lucia, the United States play Cayman Islands, and St Vincent & The Grenadines lock horns with Antigua & Barbuda.