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SA battle their way into netball final

South Africa kept their composure to narrowly defeat Jamaica by two goals in their World University Netball Championships semi-final in Cape Town.

The closely contested game finished 41-39 in front of a raucous crowd, which got louder and more animated as the clock ticked down.

Jamaica came out hard at the start, while nerves got the better of the South Africans, who trailed 12-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The home team received a pep talk at the break and came back fighting in the next quarter.

With four minutes to go in the second period, SA levelled the scores at 17-17 before they took the lead for the first time at 19-18.

The momentum stayed with them long enough to take a 22-18 lead going into the half-time break.

The hosts fought gallantly against a physical Jamaican side, and held their ground to take a slim four-goal advantage, at 30-26, into the last quarter.

The Jamaicans never surrendered and the last five minutes were extremely tense with only two goals separating the teams.

Then, with the scores at 39-38, and one minute to go, Proteas goalkeeper Vanes-Mari made a crucial interception as the hosts clinched victory.

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