A strong finish helped propel the Silver Ferns to a 61-56 win over a tenacious Jamaica in the first of the two-test netball series in Kingston today.
The Silver Ferns were forced to dig deep against a confident Jamaica, fresh from a shared series against world champions Australia last week.
But it was the Silver Ferns who showed the greater control and composure to fend off the hosts, who remained a serious threat throughout.

See below for Match line-ups, stats & scores.
Watch the replay on TV ONE, 12.05 am, Thu 22 October.

The finishing skills of shooters Maria Tutaia and Irene van Dyk were pivotal as Jamaica kept the visitors well in their sights throughout the game, the Silver Ferns duo missing just three shots between them throughout the match.

Tutaia's tally of 32 goals is her equal-highest score in an international match (she also scored 32 goals against Fiji in 2006), and her strike rate of 97% is her best-ever figure in a full international.

The Silver Ferns opted for a patient and measured opening in a bid to combat the flair and aerial skills of the Jamaicans. The ploy worked initially as the visitors were precise and consistent in their delivery through court.

Van Dyk often found herself double-marked, leaving Tutaia plenty of extra space as she potted goals from all points of the circle for the Silver Ferns to take a three-goal lead.

Jamaica rallied strongly, well marshalled by captain Simone Forbes, who showed all her wily court craft and ability to get the ball to towering goalshoot Romelda Aiken in a high-scoring opening 15 minutes. It was enough to leave the first quarter on even terms as the teams went to the first break tied up at 17-all.

The pace of the game stepped up during the second spell with the Silver Ferns making the best of starts to score the first four goals. But they were unable to pull away as the Sunshine Girls tightened their defensive efforts, particularly through goalkeeper Althea Byfield who gained a number of steals.

Larrissa Willcox got her first taste of playing against the Jamaican style when she replaced Joline Henry at wing defence for the Silver Ferns in the second quarter.

Midcourters Laura Langman and Temepara George continued to keep the Jamaicans guessing with their changing lines on attack, while Langman also picked up valuable intercepts on defence.

Greater consistency enabled the Silver Ferns to keep just in front throughout the quarter but it was a close battle as Jamaica refused to concede ground as they pushed all the way. Tutaia's impressive showing in her positional and shooting play helped the Silver Ferns to a 31-29 halftime lead.

Jamaica made a flying start on the resumption to tie the scores in a quarter of shifting momentum. A reshuffle in the Silver Ferns defensive line with captain Casey Williams replacing Katrina Grant at goalkeep and Henry taking over the goal defence duties stalled the home team's flow as fortunes swung back to the visitors.

Jamaica drew level once again before the Silver Ferns attack line, spearheaded by the dynamic Langman, showed clinical ability to make the most of their opportunities to take a 46-43 lead into the last break.

That buffer was quickly wiped out when Jamaica scored three unanswered goals to once again level the scores as the absorbing contest continued down the home stretch. But it was the Silver Ferns who finished better, withstanding the Jamaican pressure to finally pull ahead and maintain the slight edge they had held throughout to secure a hard-fought win.