SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Sunshine Girl Romelda Aiken-George drained a super-shot inside the final minute, but Eleanor Cardwell had the final say in the dying seconds, as Adelaide Thunderbirds edged New South Wales Swifts 64-62 in dramatic extra time to surge into the final of the Australian Super Netball Championship.
The 34-year-old Aiken-George finished with 29 goals from 36 attempts for Swifts, who looked a good bet for the win leading 33-39 at the start of the final quarter at Sydney SuperDome last weekend.
However, the outstanding defensive duo of Jamaica international teammates, Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson, weighed in heavily as Thunderbirds rallied in the final quarter to outscore Swifts 19-14 and tie the contest at 58.
Cardwell, who finished with 18 goals from 20 attempts, proved the hero in extra time for Thunderbirds, scoring two super shots to dominate and put her side over the top.
Swifts will, however, have another shot at the grand final in Saturday’s preliminary final when they meet West Coast Fever, who turned back Melbourne Vixens 64-57 in the other semi-final, with Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler producing a near-perfect performance, shooting 55 goals from 56 attempts.
Behind her efforts, Fever led 32-30 at the half-time whistle at Perth Arena before also outscoring Vixens in the second half to finish strongly.
Malawi international Mwai Kumwenda led for the losers with 39 from 40 attempts.
Thunderbirds will now await the winner of the preliminary final to know their opponents for the July 8 grand final.
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