By Scott Wilson, PA Sport

Australia retained their Commonwealth Games crown after a memorable 57-55 final victory over New Zealand at the MEN Arena.

The Antipodean rivals were locked together at 46-46 at the end of normal time, and 14 minutes of extra-time ended with the sides still level at 55-55.

That sent the contest into sudden death, and Australia goal attck Sharelle McMahon came back to haunt the Silver Ferns for the second major final in a row.

McMahon, who scored the winning goal 20 seconds from the end of the 1999 World Championships final, netted again to give Australia the necessary two-goal gap needed for the gold medal.

Extra-time ebbed and flowed with both sides looking likely winners at some stage.

McMahon netted two early goals to give Australia a two-goal lead, but New Zealand goal attack Irene van Dyk, the tournament's most prolific shooter, scored three quick goals in a row to put the Silver Ferns 53-52 ahead.

With less than two minutes on the clock she was awarded a penalty under the net, but incredibly missed to give Australia a lifeline.

Catherine Cox seized it with two efforts from the edge of the shooting zone and, although Donna Loffhagen levelled proceedings in the dying seconds, Australia were not to be denied their victory.

In truth, New Zealand should have taken the gold in normal time.

They led by three with less than 10 minutes to play, and still held a two-point lead with under two minutes on the clock.

But Cox netted a magnificent long-range goal 20 seconds from time to set up the grandstand finish that Australian fans are becoming accustomed to.