The biggest day on the Commonwealth Games program proved to be one of the most dramatic with thrilling final-second finishes in basketball and netball, while history was made on the track, on the hockey pitch and in the boxing ring. 

England make history

England’s Jo Harten hit the winning goal in the final second of a thrilling semifinal against Jamaica to send England into its first gold medal netball match at a Commonwealth Games.

Jamaica led 46-43 at three-quarter time before a stirring final-term fightback earned England a 56-55 win at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday.

New Zealand claim hockey gold

The New Zealand women's hockey team won their first Commonwealth Games gold medal by downing defending champions Australia 4-1 in the final at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

The Australian team was no match for the Black Sticks with the match ending Australia's run of three successive Commonwealth Games gold medals in women's hockey.

England took bronze with a comfortable 6-0 win over India.

Buzzer beater sinks New Zealand

Mamadou Gueye’s three-point buzzer beater sent Canada into the gold medal game with an upset 88-86 win over New Zealand in the men's basketball semifinals at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Canada led by 20 points late in the third quarter, but New Zealand fought back in the fourth to take a one-point lead with 5.1 seconds remaining.

On the last play, Canada tried to get the ball in the hands of top scorer Ammanuel Diressa, but New Zealand defended the play well and denied him the ball.

That left Gueye to throw up a three-point prayer that banked in off the backboard as time expired setting off wild scenes. 

Mary Kom wins boxing gold for India

India's MC Mary Kom captured her first Games gold on Saturday.

Five-time world champion Kom led a busy day for India, with gold in the 45-48kg division, while countryman Gaurav Solanki was victorious in the 52kg division.

"Even my sports minister came to cheer me on," said Kom. "My country will be very proud."

Crash course in perseverance 

Neither Australian gold medal winners thought they would even make the start line, after suffering crashes in the lead up to GC2018 road race.

Just weeks after a crash threatened to derail her chance of competing, Australian Chloe Hosking claimed gold in the women's road race.

Hosking was competing in the Tour of Flanders in Belgium when she crashed at 60kph.

“It's so special to have won on home soil. Lots of people say road cycling at the Commonwealth Games is not a big deal, but you know what? I'm Commonwealth champion and it's a big f*****g deal."

Men’s winner Steele von Hoff  broke four vertebrae in a racing crash in Melbourne just six weeks ago and was lying in a hospital bed, but refused to give up his dream for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"Six days after the crash I started training again on a recumbent (training lying down)," he said. "I just wanted to get my legs spinning. And then I thought, I have seven weeks until the Games so I'd better start training (properly)."

England claim 4x100m relay double

England claimed the relay double at Carrara Stadium on Saturday, winning the men’s and women’s 4x100m.

The men’s team of Reuben Arthur, Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey had smooth baton exchanges to win gold in 38.13 seconds, holding off a fast-finishing South African team anchored by individual 100m gold medallist Akani Simbine.

South Africa set a national record of 38.24 seconds for silver, with Olympic champions Jamaica, anchored by Yohan Blake, having to settle for bronze in 38.35 seconds.

England’s women ensured a famous double with Asha Philip, Dina Asher-Smith, Bianca Williams and Lorraine Ugen setting a national record of 42.46 seconds to win gold, bettering the bronze England won at Glasgow 2014.

Jamaica, the gold medallists from Glasgow 2014, claimed silver in 42.52 seconds with the anchor leg by Olympic 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson.

Jamaica secured silver in a time of 42.52 and Nigeria clinched bronze in 42.75.

Nicolson claims emotional gold

Australia’s Skye Nicolson did the one thing her late brother never had the chance to, win gold at a Commonwealth Games.

Jamie Nicolson was a star in the ring during his career, becoming the first Australian to win a medal at a world championship in Moscow in 1989. Competing in the same division as his sister, the 57kg fighter also won bronze at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Tragically, both Jamie and younger brother Gavin were killed in a car accident on their way to boxing training in Nerang in 1994, a year before Skye was born.

But at GC2018, Skye claimed gold in a split decision. 

Rugby Sevens recap

Olympic champions Australia advanced to the semifinals of the women’s rugby sevens, albeit with a less-than-convincing 17-10 win over Fiji, to top Pool B ahead of England.

Earlier, England sealed second place in Pool B with a 45-0 win over Wales to confirm a semifinal against Pool A winners New Zealand.

Australia will now play Pool A runners-up Canada in the first semifinal on Sunday, a replay of the Rio 2016 Olympics semifinal which Australia won 17-5.

New Zealand clinched Pool A by beating Canada 24-7 despite captain Sarah Goss and double try scorer Michaela Blyde receiving yellow cards.

Photos of the day

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Quotes of the day:

People say Road Race in the Commonwealth Games, it isn’t a big deal, but I’m a gold medallist and it’s a big [sic] deal”

- Australia’s Chloe Hosking after winning the women’s road race

The intense rivalry between India and Pakistan in sports was constantly on my mind. I am disappointed, ashamed, that an Indian was defeat by a Pakistani today and it had to be me."

- Comments from India's Somveer after his loss to Pakistan's Muhammad Inam in the men's wrestling freestyle 86kg preliminary round

Happy 60th birthday mum. This is 100 per cent for you."

- Guyana's Troy Guy on winning his nation's first men's athletics Commonwealth Games gold since 1930 and on his mother's birthday.