Diamonds down Silver Ferns to finish 2-2

(AAP) - Australia has levelled the trans-Tasman netball series with a thrilling 43-41 victory over New Zealand in the fourth Test at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

Leading by just a goal at each of the three breaks, the Diamonds withstood a
spirited late surge by the Silver Ferns in a tense final quarter.
Goal attack Susan Pratley iced the win, and a 2-all series result, with her 26th and
final goal in the last 30 seconds of the match.
The Silver Ferns were eying three straight wins over the Australians when hot goaler
Maria Tutaia shot them to a 35-33 lead with three quick goals at the start of the
fourth term.
But Diamonds skipper Mo'onia Gerrard and player of the match Julie Prendergast
stepped up and the home team regained the lead and took a three-goal advantage which
they held for virtually the remainder of the hard-fought affair.
When Tutaia (21 goals from 22 shots) missed her first shot under immense pressure
with just two minutes left the Diamonds had a two-goal lead they wouldn't concede.
Australian coach Norma Plummer pulled out a selection shock before the game,
choosing 20-year-old Queenslander Laura Geitz to mark Ferns shooting great Irene van
Dyk.
In her first international run-on start, Geitz quickly made a mark by dispossessing
van Dyk.
The rookie goal shooter also pulled off a sharp intercept ahead of the Kiwi
spearhead to spark a Diamonds spree to move to a 10-4 lead.
But the Ferns took little time to pull the deficit back and went to quarter-time
trailing 12-11.
Australia would keep a one-goal advantage at the next to changes as neither side
jumped further ahead than four goals, and generally went shot for shot.
Pratley stood up in the final term as young goal shooter Kate Beveridge got the
wobbles and the Diamonds failed to score in their first two trips down the court
after three-quarter time.