Summary

  • Use play icon to watch live coverage from Cape Town or listen to 5 Sports Extra commentary

  • Result: England 46-40 New Zealand to reach first World Cup final

  • England have never won World Cup and are in to first final

  • New Zealand were defending champions

  • Winner will face either Jamaica or Australia on Sunday

  1. Goodbye!published at 12:01 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    It's goodbye, but only for now.

    We'll be back at around 15:00 BST for more semi-final action to find out who will take on England for the gold medal on Sunday.

    Will it be Jamaica or Australia? As it is, I don't think England will care.

    Try to get your breath back, get some lunch. See you shortly.

    Media caption,

    England beat defending champions New Zealand

  2. 'We've already gone where no Roses side has gone before'published at 12:01 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    BBC Sport

    England gather to celebrate their famous win.Image source, Getty Images

    England Head Coach Jess Thirlby speaking to BBC TV:

    "I know it is predictable but it is just pride.I just feel like the journey this team have gone on...

    "Everyone wants the same thing. Every team will say they are tight and they have learned and grown, but for the last few games there has just been a different feel to this campaign.

    "Sometimes you just have to sit tight through the ups and downs, the wins and the lossess, and we have done that.

    "To see out a game goal for goal hasn't really been characteristic of us yet. But to overcome Australia and then finish a game like that with a five or six goal run against the defending champions...

    "I think the mental side of our game has massively shifted. Sometimes it takes 56 minutes before you get the reward but they kept at it and got it in the end."

  3. Jamaica to take on Australia for place in finalpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Well, that's not all folks. Jamaica will take on Australia at 15:00 BST for a place in the final.

    If the Sunshine Girls come out on top it will be the first time we have ever had a Netball World Cup final which hasn't included Australia or New Zealand.

    You can watch that match on BBC iPlayer from 15:00 BST.

  4. 'Absolutely incredible! Wow!'published at 11:56 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    BBC Sport

    England co-captain Nat Metcalf speaking to BBC TV:

    "Absolutely incredible isn't it? I'm full of emotion right now. I was really emotional with about 45 seconds to go. I think the girls on court today were phenomenal, our bench, our back bench, the coaches, it was a massive team effort. I'm just so proud that we are in a World Cup final. Wow!

    "It's been a tough year coming off the back of the Commonwealth games. finishing fourth is not where we wanted to finish. We've done the work and looked at everything, on court and off court, we've left no stone unturned. It is just pure pride to wear the red dress and line up alongside the girls every day."

    On finally beating New Zealand at a World Cup:

    "At times it didn't feel so magical out there. It was very hard out there at times because New Zealand are an incredible side. But two things were key, sticking to the game plan and processes and then the belief. Fran Williams' interception at the end, wow, her bread and butter and really helped to win the game for us."

    On the final:

    "We've got to celebrate and enjoy the moment, what a moment it is for England netball. But we need to make sure we stick to the processes and remain consistent as we have done the entire tournament."

  5. Postpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    An emotional England head coach Jess Thirlby speaking to BBC television.

    She says "pride" is the overriding emotion. Full quotes shortly.

  6. Postpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    The winning moment. Drink it in.

    Media caption,

    'Sensational!' England beat NZ to reach first World Cup final

  7. 'Not bothered who we face in the final'published at 11:50 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    BBC Sport

    England co-captain Layla Guscoth, speaking to BBC TV, on the performance of Fran Williams: "We've got such a good defensive unit at the moment, not just Fran but Funmi, Geva, myself, we have such different skillsets and we all really work for each other.

    "Fran is an incredible player and is such a big asset for this team. She played a huge part in our journey to this point."

    Who would you rather face in the final?

    "I don't really care! I will be watching with great interest, I'm sure it is going to be a great semi-final [Jamaica v Australia]. But I'm not bothered who we face."

  8. 'I can't believe it'published at 11:46 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    BBC Sport

    England co-captain Layla Guscoth speaking to BBC TV:

    "I can't believe it. We've had so much criticism over the last year and if people could see the amount of hard work we've put in... Everyone deserves it so much.

    "Everyone here, everyone at home who has put so much into this team, we are so grateful to get the chance to play in a World Cup final. We celebrate, we rest and we come back tomorrow.

    On how England pulled away in the fourth quarter:

    "We've focused a lot on grinding out games. In the past if we went a goal down or tried to go goal for goal, we didn't have the headspace to cope with that. But we've worked a lot on how to just grind it out.

    "We played number one in the world a few days ago, we played the world number two today, these games aren't going to be easy. We just have to stick with it and get the result in the end."

  9. Postpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    It was very smart from Jess Thirlby in the end. She could've changed things up in attack where things were looking a bit static but she recognised that Imogen Allison and Fran Williams are defensively game-changing players when it comes to winning ball.

    They made the difference in the end.

    England will face either Jamaica or Australia in the final on Sunday.

    Fran Williams poses with her potm medal.Image source, Getty Images
  10. 'History making'published at 11:43 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    Ama Agbeze
    Former England captain on BBC TV

    History making.

    England were so mature in the way they kept possession, kept their heads, and got those crucial turnovers, which came at the very right time.

    I am just flabbergasted at how well they have done.

    England players huddle together in celebration.Image source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    An emotional Layla Guscoth is speaking to BBC television.

    She mentions how much criticism they have had in the past year since not winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

    They have absolutely silenced those critics.

  12. 'Masterstroke from Thirlby'published at 11:40 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    Serena Kersten
    Commonwealth gold medallist with England on BBC Sport

    There has been a lot of criticism around Jess Thirlby and some of the decisions she has made, but today was a masterstroke.

  13. Get Involvedpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcnetball or text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Ruth: THAT'S NOT THE CHANGE WE NEED. I love Williams but all of our problems are in attack.

    Do you want to take that back, Ruth?

  14. 'This is massive!'published at 11:38 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    Serena Kersten
    Commonwealth gold medallist with England on BBC Sport

    I am so proud, quite emotional.

    This is massive!

    When we beat Australia it really brought me back to when England made history against New Zealand at the Commonwealth games.

    That win over Australia has galvanised this team, it has given them the confidence. What a mature performance.

    Housby is helped to her feet after by a coach.Image source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    A hug between Geva Mentor and Jade Clarke. Both playing in their sixth and final World Cups.

    What a moment for the veterans. Are we going to have a fairy tale ending to two incredible careers?

  16. Postpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Pamela Cookey
    Former England shooter

    That intercept from Fran Williams was the break that the Roses needed, it came at the exact right time.

  17. Postpublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Anna Stanley
    Former New Zealand captain on BBC TV

    You've got to say England totally deserved the win.

  18. Postpublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    There are tears, there are hugs, there is jumping for joy.

    England have beaten the world number ones and now they've beaten the defending champions.

    What a moment. An historic moment in English netball.

  19. FULL-TIME - England reach World Cup finalpublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: England 46-40 New Zealand

    THEY'VE DONE IT! ENGLAND ARE IN A WORLD CUP FINAL!

    England players hug in delight after their huge win.Image source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Q4: England 46-40 New Zealand

    Ten seconds...