England will play for Commonwealth Games gold in the basketball today after they outplayed Canada yesterday in a 65-53 semi-final win on the Gold Coast.

One week after losing their opening Pool A game 80-54 to the same opposition, England used pressure defence to keep Canada off balance, pulling 20 points clear early in the second half and then containing Canada’s attempts to rally.

Rachael Vanderwal scored 20 points and Chantelle Pressley added 11 to ensure England will better the bronze medal won in Melbourne in 2006 in the only other time basketball has been played at a Commonwealth Games.