Basketball: Silver secured, but gold a world away

Jody Tiny of New Zealand is challenged by Gillian D'Hondt of England during last night's Women's Basketball semi-final match. Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)

Annihilation looms but the Tall Ferns weren't about to raise the white flag after making the Commonwealth Games basketball final and assuring themselves of a silver medal by getting past England here last night.

It was hardly a lofty goal given the capabilities of their pool play opposition, and New Zealand still made hard work of securing a 74-67 win at the Multi Purpose Venue.

Keeping the Opals to a similar winning margin in the final would be mana from heaven against an Australian side ready, willing and able to wipe the Tall Ferns off the court tomorrow night.

While New Zealand obliterated Malta and Malaysia before not having it all their own way against Nigeria and England, the Olympic silver medallists have been routinely racking up cricket scores -- and another big win is in prospect before Australia's flag is hoisted highest.

Still, the Tall Ferns, after admitting the English victory was "ugly" at least attempted to talk a good game in the gold medal decider.

"Everyone's beatable on the right night," Nonila Wharemate told NZPA, before not being able to help herself lauding the unbackable favourites.

"Look, they've been killing the teams they've been playing.

"There aren't any weakness, they outsize us and they've got quite a bit of experience. We have to combat their size."

When the subject of containing the world's best player Lauren Jackson was broached bench player Wharemate joked their only chance was hoping the WNBA star turned an ankle.

"She's awesome to watch ..... she didn't have that great a game against England but she still got 31 points.

"We hope the coaches have something magical up their sleeve."

New Zealand played Australia in the middle of last year but Jackson and fellow US-based three-point shooter Belinda Snell did not suit up due to their pro-commitments.

"This Opals team is now as good as it gets," Wharemate admitted.

"We had the advantage of playing them last year but they didn't have a few starters then (Jackson and Snell).

Wharemate equated the Tall Ferns task to the men taking on the US Dream Team at Sydney in 2000.

"It's a bit like that ..... but it's one game at a time."

She said the squad would not be happy to have a silver already in the bag for the flight home.

"It gives us peace of mind but we're the one's that have nothing to lose.

"The Opals have had an easy run and sometimes you can knock teams off when they've been relaxed like that."

Wharemate conceded non-competitive nature of the tournament may have put the sport, which is making its Commonwealth debut, in danger of being dropped from future Games.

"I suppose there's a bit of growth to go in the sport which is something netball doesn't have," she said.

"Hopefully over time countries will develop over time. I'm hoping it doesn't get thrown out but you never know with the sort of competition we've seen this year, whether or not it's worth the trouble."

- NZPA