Netball World Cup final 2023 LIVE: Result and reaction as England lose to Australia in first-ever final

England fell to defeat in their first-ever Netball World Cup title as Australia secured a comprehensive 61-45 victory to take home their 12th World Cup. The Roses weathered an early storm to stay level at 13-13 after the first quarter but Australia’s experience and pressure began to show as the Diamonds pulled clear to lead 27-23 at half-time. That advantage was extended to ten points after a blistering third quarter that was littered with errors from Jess Thirlby’s England side. England had beaten Australia 56-55 in the group stages but Stacey Marinkovich’s side would enact their revenge in the final as they cruised home in the final quarter, eventually winning by a 16-point margin after a clinical final 15 minutes. Victory for Australia sees them claim gold a year on from victory in the Commonwealth Games while England must settle for silver which equals the nation’s best result at the tournament. Follow live updates of the Netball World Cup final below: NETBALL WORLD CUP FINAL – LIVE Australia claim their 12th World Cup with 61-45 victory over England England were hoping to win the Netball World Cup for the first time Roses beat defending champions New Zealand 46-40 in the semi-finals Earlier, Jamaica claimed bronze with victory over New Zealand Netball World Cup Live – AUSTRALIA BEAT ENGLAND 61-45 19:20 , Ben Fleming England’s hopes of Netball World Cup glory were crushed by a 61-45 final defeat to Australia in Cape Town. The Roses were making their maiden World Cup final appearance and knew they had to be at their best to win the trophy. But Australia dominated the turnover battle and, after the first-quarter honours were shared, steadily built an unassailable lead for a 12th World Cup crown. Read the full match report below: England’s hopes of Netball World Cup glory crushed by Australia in final defeat Netball World Cup Live – AUSTRALIA BEAT ENGLAND 61-45 19:19 , Ben Fleming England’s Eleanor Cardwell speaking to BBC Sport: ‘We had the better of them the other day and they had the better of us today. They were more clinical with the ball, they were hungry and turning over a lot more. ‘There are so many positives. This is the first World Cup final for every name on the team sheet and a lot of those Diamonds players have a whole lot of experience. ‘This is a first for us and I am super proud of us making history. Last year at the Commonwealth Games we came fourth and were gutted, this year we’ve got a silver medal.’ Netball World Cup Live – AUSTRALIA BEAT ENGLAND 61-45 19:01 , Ben Fleming England head coach, Jess Thirlby speaking to BBC Sport: ‘Of course, we are really grateful for that silver medal and over time I’m sure that will sink but right now we are obviously going to be gutted with a losing margin like that in our first final but such is the difference between a team that have won 12 of them and a team that have just broken into their first one. ‘It’s a tough lesson and I’m sure it will sink in in terms of that history we have made but for now I think it’s okay to feel a little bit disappointed just because of the level of belief and capability we have as a team. ‘It was always going to be a tough ask, and you just can’t throw the ball away like we did. I just want to say I’m incredibly proud, despite the final result, and we had to battle to be there, but we just fell short today. ‘This is a different generation. There are netballers out there, younger than these guys, and all they are going to know is that the Roses make World Cup finals. That is a really special thing to build to given to our netball family and inspire them.’ Netball World Cup Live – AUSTRALIA BEAT ENGLAND 61-45 18:52 , Ben Fleming Australia’s Ashleigh Brazill, who is retiring after this World Cup, speaks to BBC Sport: ‘For that last ten minutes, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. To beat England like that, they beat us in the rounds…and that just got everyone fighting. We really wanted to beat Jamaica so we could play against these guys again. ‘We’ve done it the way we wanted to – the last two games is some of the best netball we have played in a long time. I’m just so proud of the girls because it’s taken all of us, the entire 22, and the fact we are standing here World Champions, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending.’ Netball World Cup Live – AUSTRALIA BEAT ENGLAND 61-45 18:45 , Ben Fleming It also means that Australia now add the World Cup title to their Commonwealth gold from last year in Birmingham. After a disappointing few years, they’ve re-asserted themselves as the dominant force in the sport. Netball World Cup Live – AUSTRALIA BEAT ENGLAND 61-45 18:42 , Ben Fleming In the end, it all got away from England in that final. The scoreline certainly won’t reflect how close that first half was but mistakes in possession and all-round superb performance from Australia saw them pull clear in the final two quarters. Netball World Cup Live – England 45-61 Australia 18:37 , Ben Fleming There’s nothing England can do in the final few minutes and Australia continue to pile on the points in the final minutes. With that, the full-time whistle goes and AUSTRALIA ARE THE NETBALL WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS! Netball World Cup Live – England 44-58 Australia (Q4) 18:34 , Ben Fleming The England players look out on their feet now on the court as Australia continue to pile on the points and find the turnovers. The lead is now 14 with two minutes left. Netball World Cup Live – England 44-55 Australia (Q4) 18:33 , Ben Fleming Garbin continues her fantastic performance in attack for Australia as they continue to keep England at arm’s length. Cardwell with an uncharacteristic miss for England and the expression on her face says it all…it’s not going to be their day. Netball World Cup Live – England 41-52 Australia (Q4) 18:29 , Ben Fleming Under seven minutes to go and England trail by 11. Australia remain calm and composed and they look on course to see this game out. Netball World Cup Live – England 40-50 Australia (Q4) 18:26 , Ben Fleming England need the perfect quarter to try and fashion a way back into this final and so far there’s just too many mistakes in possession. They are into the forties but still some way behind Australia and it’s another interception from Bruce out wide! Superb defence once again from the Diamonds as they repel another Roses attack. Netball World Cup Live – England 39-50 Australia (Q4) 18:23 , Ben Fleming Big tip from England! They lose possession of the ball but Pitman works hard to win it back and Cardwell converts unopposed. Now what can they do on Australian possession? Netball World Cup Live – England 37-48 Australia (Q4) 18:22 , Ben Fleming Underway in the final quarter as Australia make the first vital turnover! Plenty of calm in the way they are moving the ball – certainly no rush with a ten-point lead. Austin converts to maintain her 100% shooting record this game and move Australia further ahead. Netball World Cup Live – England 36-46 Australia (End of Q3) 18:18 , Ben Fleming A score right at the death for Australia as the third quarter comes to an end and it’s far from the quarter that England would have wanted. They started with a four-point deficit and end with a ten-point deficit. Some superb pressure from the Diamonds cut the options for the Roses and forced a few too many mistakes from England. A seismic final quarter now required for England if they are to overturn this scoreline. Netball World Cup Live – England 32-42 Australia 18:14 , Ben Fleming Garbin has been inspired since coming off the bench as she nets two in quick succession to establish a ten-point lead for Australia. England make a change as Chelsea Pitman comes onto the court. Netball World Cup Live – England 31-38 Australia 18:12 , Ben Fleming Australia are really starting to marshall this centre court with the Roses having to work hard for every single pass. Brazill gets a tip but it goes out of court. England recycle the ball and it’s wonderful from Cardwell who shoots off balance – with only one foot on the ground – but still manages to find the net before she falls out of the court. Superb stuff but work still to be done for the Roses. Netball World Cup Live – England 29-34 Australia (Q3) 18:06 , Ben Fleming England coach Jess Thirbly reacts immediately to that lengthening Australian lead as she reverses the change in defence with Geva Mentor back on for Funmi Fadoju. Housby gets back on the ball and the scoresheet as the Roses chip away slightly at Australia’s lead. Netball World Cup Live – England 26-34 Australia (Q3) 18:04 , Ben Fleming Sarah Klau now on for Jo Weston and straight into the action! A huge tip for the Diamonds who turnover the ball and are in full flow now Big problems for the Roses… Netball World Cup Live – England 26-31 Australia (Q3) 18:03 , Ben Fleming A sloppy pass and a bit of miscommunication from England in attack as Brazill latches onto the ball. The diamonds convert and they now edge five points ahead. Netball World Cup Live – England 23-27 Australia (Q3) 18:02 , Ben Fleming A couple of changes in defence for the Roses as Geva Mentor makes way for Funmi Fadoju. Layla Guscoth also comes back in at goal defence for Fran Williams. Netball World Cup Live – England 23-27 Australia (Q3) 18:00 , Ben Fleming Right, here we go. The third quarter is underway. A must-win for England you feel. Netball World Cup Live – England 23-27 Australia (End of Q2) 17:56 , Ben Fleming A monumental two quarters coming up for the Roses. They got slightly undone towards the back end of that second quarter but as they’ve shown today and throughout this tournament, they can come back from behind. Netball World Cup Live – England 23-27 Australia (End of Q2) 17:49 , Ben Fleming Ooh, could that be a costly miss from Garbin? She has the net at her mercy to give Australia a 22-28 lead but just misses. England show good composure to work the ball from deep and find a crucial score with seconds remaining in the second quarter. They trail by four but are not out of it by any means. 23-27 at the halfway stage. Netball World Cup Live – England 22-26 Australia (Q2) 17:46 , Ben Fleming Now a great tip from Bruce out wide! A great leap to disrupt the Roses attack with Garbin and Austin netting in quick succession to establish a four-point lead now. Netball World Cup Live – England 21-23 Australia (Q2) 17:44 , Ben Fleming Superb defence from Weston and Australia are able to turnover the ball and edge further ahead. Netball World Cup Live – England 20-21 Australia (Q2) 17:43 , Ben Fleming More changes as Jade Clark comes on for Imogen Allison for the Roses, while Kiera Austin comes on for the Diamonds with Steph Wood making way. Netball World Cup Live – England 19-20 Australia (Q2) 17:41 , Ben Fleming Mentor has done a good job of disrupting the attacks of the Diamonds with Aussie coach Marinkovich bringing on Sophie Garbin for Cara Koenen. Another interception from Williams! What an inspired few games she is having. It’s an uncharacteristic miss from Cardwell at first but she gets another crack at it and England close the gap yet again. Netball World Cup Live – England 18-19 Australia (Q2) 17:38 , Ben Fleming Cardwell and Koenen certainly finding it much harder to find space against their respective defenders. Plenty of physicality between the two sides as they jostle for position. Housby nets to bring the Roses within one. Netball World Cup Live – England 15-17 Australia (Q2) 17:34 , Ben Fleming It’s a real nip and tuck affair at the minute with each side affording the other little room to work with in and around the net. Australia with the turnover early in Q2 as they edge ahead now. Netball World Cup Live – England 14-13 Australia (Q2) 17:32 , Ben Fleming And underway for the second quarter as England lead for the first time with an early score. Netball World Cup Live – England 13-13 Australia (End of Q1) 17:29 , Ben Fleming And breathe…a non-stop first quarter comes to an end with Housby netting just in time to bring the Red Roses level. They’ll be the happier of the two teams having weathered the storm and come back from a three-point deficit but the Diamonds will be encouraged by the slick netball they played for the first part of that quarter. An intriguing second awaits… Netball World Cup Live – England 12-12 Australia 17:26 , Ben Fleming And again! Imogen Allison this time with the turnover and England have a chance to level the game. Some great tips from the Aussie defence in and around the circle but England level with under a minute to go until the end of the first quarter. Netball World Cup Live – England 10-11 Australia 17:25 , Ben Fleming Turnover! Williams again proving her worth off the bench with a vital interception. The Roses unfortunately give the ball away cheaply afterwards but great early signs once again from Williams. Netball World Cup Live – England 10-11 Australia 17:24 , Ben Fleming Just under three minutes to go but England rally well after that early Diamonds charge as Cardwell brings them back to within a score. Netball World Cup Live – England 7-10 Australia 17:21 , Ben Fleming England win a good turnover but some fantastic pressure from Australia in the mid-court means that the Roses can’t take advantage with a score. An early swap for the Rose as well, with Fran Williams coming into the fray at goal defence and replacing Layla Guscoth. Netball World Cup Live – England 6-10 Australia 17:19 , Ben Fleming Cardwell just strays out of the court with her right foot, not able to release the ball and the Diamonds have a backline pass. And the Australians take full advantage with a fast-flowing couple of moves up the court to move into the double-digits and establish a four-point lead. Netball World Cup Live – England 5-6 Australia 17:16 , Ben Fleming Eleanor Cardwell getting the crowd on side early as she nets a couple in quick succession to keep England just one score behind. Netball World Cup Live – England 3-4 Australia 17:15 , Ben Fleming Helen Housby finds her first off the game as England battle back to 3-4 after a somewhat shaky start. Netball World Cup Live – England 0-1 Australia 17:12 , Ben Fleming Australia get a turnover straight out of the gate as they net the first point of the game. Netball World Cup Live – England vs Australia 17:10 , Ben Fleming The players are out on the court, the anthems have been sung and the final is just moments away from getting started! Netball World Cup Live – England vs Australia 17:10 , Ben Fleming One area in which England do trump Australia is experience with the Roses’ team having 909 total player caps to the 487 of the Diamonds. 40-year-old Jade Clark will offer a vast amount of experience off the bench while Geva Mentor will play her final match today for England after six World Cup appearances and 174 caps. Netball World Cup Live – England vs Australia 17:05 , Ben Fleming One area that will be key is the influence off the bench. Fran Williams made a crucial interception in the fourth quarter against New Zealand and will be looking to have a similar impact again when she’s introduced to the action. Both Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin have also enjoyed great World Cups off the bench for Australia and will no doubt play a big part in this game’s result when called upon by head coach Stacey Marinkovich. Netball World Cup Live – England vs Australia 16:53 , Ben Fleming And here is how Australia line up, with head coach Stacey Marinkovich naming an unchanged lineup from the semi-final against Jamaica. Australia starting seven: Courtney Bruce, Jo Weston, Ashleigh Brazill, Paige Hadley, Liz Watson, Steph Wood, Cara Koenen Subs: Sarah Klau, Sunday Aryang, Jamie-Lee Price, Sophie Garbin, Kiera Austin. Netball World Cup Live – England vs Australia 16:41 , Ben Fleming We are just twenty minutes away from the final between England and Australia but we have just had the conclusion of the bronze medal match between Jamaica and New Zealand. It’s a famous victory for the Sunshine Girls as they run out 52-45 winners against the defending champions, New Zealand. Netball World Cup Live – England vs Australia 16:27 , Ben Fleming We have the first bit of teams new and England name an unchanged Roses side for the final: England starting seven: Geva Mentor, Laura Malcolm, Layla Guscoth, Imogen Allison, Helen Housby, Nat Metcalf, Eleanor Cardwell. Subs: Jade Clarke, Funmi Fadoju, Chelsea Pitman, Liv Tchine, Fran Williams. Netball World Cup Live 16:23 , Ben Fleming And in case you missed England’s semi-final, the Red Roses knockout out defending champions New Zealand after a nail-biting final quarter. With the scores locked at 32-32, the decisive moment came with four minutes remaining with England 41-40 ahead when Fran Williams made a brilliant clean intercept to help the Roses extend their lead. When Helen Housby missed a chance to put England 43-40 up with the clock ticking down, Eleanor Cardwell pounced on the rebound to make it. Imogen Allison then produced another crucial touch to keep the ball in play as England added five points without reply and it was left to Housby to seal a historic win. Netball World Cup Live 16:17 , Ben Fleming In the final, England take on a familiar foe in the form of Australia. The Roses defeated the Diamonds for the first time in the World Cup earlier this week in the group stages but must do so again in the final if they are to claim their first-ever World Cup triumph. Here is a recap of how that famous victory went down: Netball World Cup Live 16:10 , Ben Fleming Here are the all key details ahead of the final: When is the Netball World Cup final? England play Australia in the Netball World Cup final at 5pm on Sunday 6 August. How can I watch it? It will be shown live on the BBC, with coverage starting on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer at 4:45pm BST. Hello and welcome 16:03 , Ben Fleming Welcome along to The Independent’s live coverage of the Netball World Cup final between England and Australia. The Roses are aiming to win the tournament for the first time in their history having beaten defending champions New Zealand in the semi-finals. England beat Australia for the first time in a World Cup earlier in the tournament’s group stages but face a tough task again against the Diamonds who have won the tournament a record 11 times. Stay tuned for all the build-up ahead of the 5pm start!