The Australian Opals confirmed their status as the best team at the Commonwealth Games last night and will now look to ram home that message when they take on England in their final group game. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:30pm (AEST).
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The Aussies haven’t been challenged across their first two games. They were supposed to be last night, but Canada, ranked number five in the world, didn’t hold a candle to the Opals.
The end scoreline, which read 100-61 for a thumping 39-point victory almost flattered the North American outfit, with the Australian team in fine form through the early stages of the tournament.
Liz Cambage is proving to be a dominant weapon in the paint for the green and gold, with no one seemingly able to stop her rebounding and shooting at will. With others like Stephanie Talbot and Cayla George in fine form, the Opals look unstoppable.
England are an outfit who have enough talent on the floor, but haven’t quite put it together during their campaign.
After starting out with a predictable loss to Canada, they were locked in a serious arm wrestle with minnows Mozambique during the first three quarters.
Being unable to pull away from a team Australia thumped by 60 is a major concern for England, but they managed to finish the game on a high, winning the final quarter 20-4, which saw them take a 26-point win.
Again, it was nowhere near as comfortable as it should have been, but a win is a win and somewhat leaves them in with a shot of finishing in the top two, should they win tonight and Mozambique beat Canada – something which would take a miracle.
For the Opals, this is another game where they will look to build before the knockout action begins later in the week.
Prediction
While England are a much stronger side than Mozambique, it’s still hard to see them putting up much of a challenge against one of the best sides in the world and certainly the best at this tournament.
Opals by 33.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of the match from 5:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening for The Roar's live coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back at 9pm (AEST) for the Boomers and Nigeria. In the meantime, be sure to check out the swimming with Adelaide Docker. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, the Aussies now have three days off before the semi-finals back on the Gold Coast. England play Jamaica tomorrow night.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Australia runs some time, then it's a wide-open shot from just inside the arc missing. England quickly down the floor and Quee goes to ground with under a second on the clock. SHe was looking to finish with a bucket and the ball ended up over the baseline. Quee looks sore as she goes to the bench. That'll do us though! Australia have destroyed England and they will move into the finals in fine form. England - 55 Australia - 118
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Prior a miss for England, then into the final half a minute, Australia run some clock down. Blicaves goes inside and there is a foul. England - 55 Australia - 118
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Aussies through Magbegor and she misses at the baseline. England - 55 Australia - 118
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' England through Pressley, then Prior who shoots for three and it falls from the wing! England - 55 Australia - 118
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' England with a turnover, then Blicavs goes to Kunic on the break who misses a three. Seekamp the rebound, then she misses. England - 52 Australia - 118
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' England now looking for an option and in the end it's a rushed shot at the end of the shot clock. Australia quickly back up the floor and it's a missed three, with George getting the rebound and also missing. England - 52 Australia - 118
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' England with a bucket through Campbell, then Australia score on the break again. England - 52 Australia - 118
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Pressley with a miss for three this time. Australia back up the floor through Seekamp and Kunic, before they work it around and George scores a jumper from the post. England - 50 Australia - 116
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Seekamp makes both. England - 50 Australia - 114
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' England a miss, then it's Seekamp off to the races, scrambling down the floor. The defence is back, but she draws a blocking foul. England - 50 Australia - 112
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Straight back at 'em! Kunic hits a wide open three at the corner. England - 50 Australia - 112
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' The English through Campbell and then Quee who beats the end of the shot clock with a three! England - 50 Australia - 109
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' The Opals settling into a zone defence, then Prior scores from the post. Australia quickly up the floor and George scores off the go ahead pass through Seekamp. England - 47 Australia - 109
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' The teams exchange threes here. England - 45 Australia - 107
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Timeout England... Not that I can see much of a point in calling one. England - 42 Australia - 104
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Sloppy foul now. Seekamp makes contact with Jones as she went on the run. From the inbound, it's England missing, then Australia on the break and Blicavs will score off the Seekamp pass. England - 42 Australia - 104
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Aussies through Blicavs, then Talbot and she scores out of the corner just inside the perimeter. England - 42 Australia - 102