Australia's netball coach Norma Plummer declared Caitlin Bassett a champion after the newcomer scored in the dying seconds of extra time to steal the world championship from New Zealand 58-57 last night in Singapore.
The 23-year-old Bassett went into the tournament with only five test caps, but turned out to be the Diamonds' game breaker in another classic final between the sports greatest rivals.
Then Silver Ferns led 26-20 at halftime, it was 46-all at the end of regular time, and there was little more than the odd goal between the two teams in the 14 minutes of extra time.
In the dying moments, the Silver Ferns shooter Maria Tutaia had the chance to win the match for the Ferns, but missed her shot and Bassett made no mistake down the other end.
The Australian captain Natalie von Bertouch said the win was sweet revenge after last year's heart break when they lost the Commonwealth Games gold medal to the Silver Ferns in Delhi in double overtime.
New Zealand's coach Ruth Aitken said she was shattered for her players at the end of such an amazing game which gave Australia their 10th world title.
