AMELIARANNE Ekenasio and Laura Langman were the toast of New Zealand after three critical moments between them in the last 90 seconds to secure a remarkable come-from-behind Silver Ferns victory in game three of the Constellation Cup. For the third time in four games, New Zealand Silver Ferns got the better of their Trans-Tasman rivals, Australia Diamonds in a one-goal thriller to go 2-1 up in the series. The 54-53 victory in front of a packed crowd at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney was nail-biting to say the least with both benches up on their feet at times during the tense last couple of minutes to see the world’s two best netball sides go head-to-head.

The one-goal win to the Silver Ferns was not too dissimilar to their Game One triumph on home soil, having to come from behind to overrun the Diamonds in the last term. But unlike that match, the visitors had to come from four goals down at the half, get within a goal at the final break, and hold on under a pressure-cooker situation in the last quarter to win the term 12-10 and get home by the narrowest of margins. Both teams were incredibly accurate throughout the game, shooting at 90 per cent, with the Diamonds having double the turnovers (6-3), but also holding firm close to the post with eight rebounds to two throughout the game.

Of all the moments when both sides needed a hero to stand up, the Silver Ferns had two, with Ekenasio delivering a goal to go one-up with just over a minute remaining after Tegan Philip was called for held-ball just moments earlier up the other end. With 51 seconds left on the clock, Caitlin Thwaites levelled the score again, as New Zealand looked to eat up as much of the time as they could at 53 goals apiece. The visitors upset the defensive rhythm of the Aussies, with Folau darting out to win possession and producing a pin-point pass into Ekenasio who for the second time in 90 seconds, delivered with the roar of the Australian crowd trying to drown out her thoughts. With seconds remaining, Australia had one role of the dice remaining. They raced off the centre pass, but as Jo Weston attempted to slice through the defence, Langman – arguably, if not definitively the world’s best centre – read the play like a picture book, intercepted the ball sending it down the other end for the whistle to sound before another goal could be put on the board.

Langman was absolutely phenomenal throughout the contest, producing a remarkable 26 goal assists from 43 feeds, as well as three intercepts and three gains to be the standout Most Valuable Player (MVP). In the attacking circle, Ekenasio was the standout player, rubbing salt into the wounds that the former Australian junior was in the all-black dress instead of the green and gold. She shot 27 of a possible 29 goals, while having five goal assists from six feeds – as well as New Zealand’s only two rebounds. Folau also had five goal assists from eight feeds and proved to be the long bomb specialist once again nailing 27 from 31. Up the other end, it was Jane Watson who did a strong job on Bassett forcing the Diamonds captain to the bench, picking up three gains and three intercepts, while Karin Burger had four and one, granted with 14 penalties – the most of any player.

The Australian netball fans were again left somewhat frustrated based on the social media feedback, with Gretel Tippett shooting 13 goals at 100 per cent accuracy, only to be replaced by Philip at a crucial time. Thwaites also stood tall in moments of upmost importance, slotting 16 goals from 17 attempts backing herself from anywhere in the goal circle. The Diamonds captain, shot 19 from 21 and was as reliable as ever under the post, but the predictability inside the goal circle seemed costly once again – especially taking the dead-eye Tippett out of the attack. In mid-court it was hard to believe Laura Scherian was only in her debut international series, picking up 24 goal assists from 29 feeds, with Liz Watson beaten by Langman, but still having 13 goal assists from 22 feeds. Ash Brazill started in wing defence and finished with two intercepts and three gains, replaced by Jamie-Lee Price later in the match, while Weston had an intercept and three gains, but 13 penalties, three more than Courtney Bruce who rotated with Sarah Klau.

While both sides showed why they are the two best teams in the world, once again it was New Zealand’s ability to stand up in the pressure-cooker moments and take their chances that got them home by one goal once again. It was so near, yet so far for the Diamonds who now have to lick their wounds and bounce back as they did in game two, to try and turn the tables on their rivals in Perth in the fourth and final match of the series. The fourth game will be held next Sunday at RAC Arena in what is predicted to be a full house.