Ipoh: India put up a spirited show before squandering their early lead to go down 1-3 against defending champions Australia in a league match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, here Tuesday. In another late evening match, Great Britain defeated Malaysia 1-0 to move above India in the points table.
Britain with seven points are currently in second position, while India with four are down to third place.
After managing to hold the World Champions in the first quarter, India took the lead in the 25th minute through a field goal from Harmanpreet Singh.
However, Australia hit back strongly through Eddie Ockenden (30th minute), Tom Craig (34th) and Tom Wickham (51st) to dash Indian dreams.
Nine-time winners of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Australia now have seven points from three outings and they head the points table as they have a superior goal difference over Great Britain.
Australia went into attacking mode from the start, forcing the first penalty corner in the opening minute, but the Indian defenders rushed out to close the angle.
Craig’s deflection on Dylan Wotherspoon’s cross in the third minute went wide of the mark before India earned a penalty corner two minutes later. But Harmanpreet failed to take a proper shot.
India got their second penalty corner in the ninth minute, but Rupinderpal Singh’s rising flick was palmed back into play by Australian custodian Tyler Lovell.
India then suffered a grievous blow as skipper PR Sreejesh limped off with an injury while stretching to make a save. He was replaced by Akash Chikte.
After a goalless first quarter and two half chances at the beginning of the second, India broke the deadlock. Harmanpreet hit a pass towards Mandeep Singh, but the ball hit a defender’s stick and entered the Aussie goal.
Goalkeeper Chikte palmed away an Australian penalty corner before Ockenden deflected in a long diagonal cross from Jeremy Hayward for the equaliser just before half time.
Craig then beat the Indian goalkeeper with his reverse shot after being fed by captain Matthew Swann early into the third quarter.
The Australian goalkeeper then denied India on a counter- attack in the 41st minute. Sardar did all the spadework and provided a wonderful through ball for Akashdeep, but the latter could only take a weak reverse flick which Lovell had no difficulty palming away.
The third Australian goal, from Wickham came after he ran square into the circle as three Indian defenders hesitated to tackle him. Wickham slammed in a firm shot that gave no chance to the custodian.
PTI
