Melbourne: VR Raghunath’s twin strike went in vain as Indian men’s hockey team went down to Australia 3-4 in the second and final game to draw the two-match series 1-1, here Wednesday.
Akashdeep Singh (sixth minute) and Raghunath (22nd, 25th) scored for the visitors, while Australia’s goals came from the sticks of Tent Mitton (13th) Jake Whetton (23rd) and Jeremy Hayward (38th, 54th).
Playing with 10 men for large periods of the third quarter, India defended stoutly but were finally outsmarted by Australia just six minutes from the hooter.
The visitors were the first to sound the board with Akashdeep scoring off a combined move. However, Australia maintained composure and restored parity when Mitton sounded the board through a solo effort.
The second quarter was exciting with Raghunath hitting the target off a penalty corner, but India’s lead was short-lived as Whetton equalised a minute later – against of a penalty corner. But five minutes before the breather, Rahunath again scored to establish India’s supremacy.
In an ill-tempered third quarter that saw four yellow cards – three to Indian players, Australia wrested back the control and scored via a Hayward penalty corner conversion.
For most of the third and fourth quarters India had to play with nine or 10 men and the hosts took advantage of this when Hayward scored his second goal off Australia’s seventh penalty corner to seal victory for his side.
PTI
