New Zealand's two-year domination of the FastNet world netball series ended in Manchester on Monday (NZT) when England surged home for a 33-26 win.
The Fastnet Ferns had won both previous titles in the abbreviated version of the game, and held a narrow 14-13 lead at halftime.
The third quarter proved pivotal, as both teams took the double-point power plays for the six-minute spell. But while England made every goal count, the New Zealanders struggled to convert their possession into points, and England took the quarter 16-8 to lead 29-22 at the three-quarter mark.
England shooter Jo Harten, signed for the Canterbury Tactix in next year's trans-Tasman netball league, was particularly effective with the long-range two-point shot from outside the circle.
Stacey Francis, who has also signed with the Tactix, and fellow defender Eboni Beckford-Chambers (West Coast Fever) rebounded superbly as the pressure mounted on Ferns' shooters Cathrine Latu and Maria Tutaia in the closing stages.
Earlier, New Zealand had reversed a 27-23 pool play loss to Jamaica, holding on for 30-29 semi-final win. Harten again starred for England in the other semifinal, the hosts looking comfortable in accounting for Australia 33-26.
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