ON THE day of their country’s independence, Jamaica reached a historic first Commonwealth Games final with a thumping 67 -51 semi-final win against New Zealand.

The NEC’s netball arena belonged to Jamaica. The popularity of Jamaica in particular, and the sport, ensured that the venue was at capacity minutes prior to the 9am start. The feeling pre-match was that Jamaica would be too strong for NZ. So, it proved.

The Caribbean team are everyone’s favourite other team a bit like Brazil’s footballers and West Indies’ cricketers – and it is easy to see why courtesy of their abilty and charisma.

There is something magical about this squad. They have the ability, the mentality, team work and professionalism to take gold against whoever they play in Sunday’s final.

The first quarter actually began with New Zealand having the first opportunity to score. They missed and the writing was on the wall.

Jamaica captain, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, then literally took the game into her own hands by scoring the opener. The team leader was to end up with a 100 per cent shooting record, scoring 54 times and never looked like missing.

No matter what New Zealand tried, all match, they were second best. The quarter ended 18 – 9 to the rampant Caribbean outfit already making it a romp.

The opening moments of the second quarter replicated the first. Jamaica were all over their opponents like a rash with every team member playing their part with discipline and flair.

Half time saw Jamaica in pole position, leading 36 -22 and almost out of sight.

New Zealand were sent out early for the third quarter – it did them no good, however, with Fowler-Reid scoring within seconds to further dampen the enthusiasm of the women in black.

Jamaica were managing the game so well. At times, it was exhibition stuff by the team in yellow. If this was boxing bout, it would have been called off to save NZ from further punishment.

Jamaica’s display bore testament to the likes of Fowler-Reid and Shamera Sterling, and others, playing their netball in Australia.

That said, a poor New Zealand side should not diminish from a high-class Jamaican outfit who have all the tools to win gold.

The third quarter ended 52-35 and Jamaica’s fans, and everyone else in the arena to be fair, were in absolute awe of Fowler’s dominant team. Despite their lead, Fowler-Reid continued to gesticulate and direct her team to success.

And of course, Fowler opened the scoring again for the last fifteen minutes of action. She was subbed with minutes to go, along with Sterling, and the two were rightly applauded for phenomenal displays.

Prior to the Games, Ama Agbeze who led England to netball gold on the Gold Coast in 2018, got it right when she told The Voice:

“I almost I feel like Birmingham is Jamaica’s second home. When London 2012 was on, they trained here [in Birmingham], they have connections to the University of Birmingham.

“The way African and Caribbean nations lend themselves to supporting is with noise with energy with colour so when you’re playing, you only thrive off that energy, so I just feel almost, it’s Jamaica’s time.

“Jamaica can be very hot and cold, sometimes you don’t know which Jamaica is going to come out. But you can’t discount Jamaica.”

It doesn’t matter who Jamaica play in the final. Gold would appear to be their destiny.