The Australian Diamonds sealed the three-match series in emphatic fashion with a commanding 67–40 victory over the SPAR Proteas. Costly mistakes from South Africa proved decisive as the world champions showcased their dominance once again.
The Proteas entered the second match knowing that a win was essential to level the series heading into the final encounter. Head coach Jenny van Dyk made several changes to her starting lineup, handing starts to Refiloe Nketsa, Nichole Breedt, and Sanmarie Visser.
South Africa aimed to use speed and agility to unsettle the Diamonds, but the hosts quickly adapted and countered the plan effectively. Tayla Marthe was introduced midway through the first quarter to stabilise the midcourt, and despite South Africa’s intent, unforced errors proved costly as Australia took the quarter 18–11.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with the Diamonds maintaining relentless pressure on both ends of the court. The Proteas struggled to find rhythm, committing further errors, while Australia continued to convert their chances efficiently. The Diamonds took the second quarter 14–11, stretching their overall lead to 32–22 at halftime.
Kamogelo Maseko replaced captain Khanyisa Chawane just before the break, while van Dyk brought on Rolene Streukter and Owethu Ngubane in the third quarter to inject fresh energy in attack. However, the experienced Australians tightened their grip, outmuscling the Proteas in key areas to extend their advantage to 50–30 by the end of the third quarter.
Elmere van der Berg, who had been rested earlier, returned for the final quarter in an effort to narrow the deficit, but the Diamonds were unyielding. The reigning world champions maintained their intensity, denying South Africa any chance to execute their game plan. After 60 minutes, the scoreboard told the story — a dominant 67–40 win for Australia, securing the series with a match to spare.
Head coach Jenny van Dyk expressed her disappointment after the game:
“I am really disappointed with our performance today. No excuses — full accountability is what’s needed. The work we’ve put in over the past few weeks doesn’t reflect the performance we delivered, and everyone will feel that disappointment.
When you’re up against the world’s top teams, you need to be prepared — they’re not waiting for South Africa to catch up. The Aussies dominated in every department. The lesson for us is to always be prepared and to understand the difference between talking a big game and playing one.”
Quarter Breakdown
Quarter | SPAR Proteas | Aussie Diamonds |
Q1 | 11 | 18 |
Q2 | 22 | 32 |
Q3 | 30 | 50 |
Q4 | 40 | 67 |
SPAR Proteas Starting VII
GS – Elmere van der Berg
GA – Nichole Breedt
WA – Khanyisa Chawane (C)
C – Refiloe Nketsa
WD – Shadine van der Merwe
GD – Sanmarie Visser
GK – Nicola Smith
Shooting Statistics
Player | Goals / Attempts | Accuracy |
Elmere van der Berg | 23 / 28 | 82% |
Nichole Breedt | 4 / 8 | 50% |
Owethu Ngubane | 4 / 5 | 80% |
Rolene Streukter | 9 / 11 | 82% |
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