Jamaica on top at FastNet netball

LIVERPOOL, England (CMC):

Jamaica installed themselves as favourites to win the second FastNet World Series, after they reached the semi-finals. This follows a pair of victories over high-profile opponents, and a tie with New Zealand yesterday in the last slew of preliminary games at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

The Jamaicans finished the preliminary competition with the best record of 4-0-1 and topped the points standings with nine.

The Sunshine Girls face the New Zealanders again today in the first semi-final for a place in the final.

The Sunshine Girls toppled traditional netball's World No.1 Australia 32-30, stopped hosts and World No. 3 England 27-20, and tied 27-27 with World No. 2 New Zealand.

All three opponents have trampled the Jamaicans in separate Test series in the longer version of the game this year.

Six teams are contesting the FastNet World Series, which is a shortened version of the game, including rolling substitutions, double-point Power Plays, six-minute quarters, and two-point goals from outside the circle.

Jamaica and hosts England are fielding almost full-strength line-ups, as are Malawi and South Africa.

Both Australia and New Zealand are resting their top line-ups for the tournament, as a testing Common-wealth Games campaign and next year's World Championship in Singapore dominate priorities.