Australia's Diamonds lose to New Zealand's Silver Ferns 61-52 in Constellation Cup third Test
The Silver Ferns rebounded after losing the opening Tests of the series to the Diamonds. (Getty Images: Fiona Goodall)
In short:
New Zealand defeated Australia 61-52 in the third Constellation Cup Test in Hamilton.
The Silver Ferns led at the end of each quarter to record their first victory of the series.
What's next?
The Constellation Cup will conclude in Christchurch on Wednesday.
Australia has missed the chance of wrapping up the Constellation Cup in the third Test, with New Zealand recording a 61-52 victory in Hamilton.
The Diamonds hosted the opening two Tests of the series, winning both by comfortable 17-goal margins.
A triumph in Hamilton would have seen the Diamonds regain the Constellation Cup, but their fortunes changed across the Tasman, with the Silver Ferns rebounding on home soil.
Grace Nweke stood up for the Silver Ferns, shooting 44 goals from 46 attempts.
Sophie Garbin led the scoring for the Diamonds with 22 goals.
The Diamonds have lost nine straight games in New Zealand, with their most recent win coming in 2021.
The fourth and final Test will be played in Christchurch on Wednesday night.
If the Silver Ferns win that game to level the series at 2-2, the teams will contest a mini-match dubbed Series Decider Time, which consists of two seven-minute halves.
Should the Series Decider Time be required, the winning team will claim the Constellation Cup.
The Silver Ferns received a major boost ahead of the third Test following the reinstatement of long-term coach Dame Noeline Taurua.
Taurua has been stood down since September after player complaints about her communication style.
But New Zealand Netball said she would again take the reins at the end of the year.
With captain Karin Burger leading by example, the Silver Ferns led after each quarter.
The Diamonds trailed 13-12 after a physical opening term, with the Silver Ferns having overhauled the visitors' 5-1 lead.
Both teams went on big runs in the second stanza, with the Silver Ferns scoring the first five goals of the quarter to lead 23-16, before the Diamonds responded with their own six-goal stretch.
The Silver Ferns dominated the Diamonds to lead at the end of each quarter. (Getty Images: Fiona Goodall)
But the hosts took a 29-28 lead into half-time after forcing the Diamonds into making uncharacteristic errors.
The Silver Ferns turned up the pressure another notch in the third quarter, leaving Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich to make a raft of changes as she attempted to stem the flow of goals.
The changes included replacing her mid-court stars, captain Liz Watson and centre Kate Moloney, who had starred in the opening two Tests.
They also temporarily lost goalkeeper Courtney Bruce, who limped off with an ankle injury, but was able to play out the game.
But with goal-shooter Nweke dominating and veteran goalkeeper Kelly Jackson locking down Australia's goal circle, New Zealand could not be stopped.
The Silver Ferns led 49-39 at the end of the third quarter and were never genuinely threatened in the final term.
ABC/AAP