The Indian men’s hockey team is on a dismal operate and lost their fourth consecutive match on Friday against Australia 1-3 on the tour Down Below.
Even though the Indian staff improved their overall performance from the previous games, Australia was a lot more scientific on the area and registered the gain irrespective of conceding the early goal.
All 4 ambitions in the match, which commenced 40 minutes late thanks to lightning, arrived from penalty corners.
India took the lead in the 12th moment as a result of skipper Harmanpreet Singh but Jeremy Hayward’s (19th, 47th) brace and Jack Welch (54th) strike handed Australia nevertheless yet another gain in the sequence.
India was decimated 1-5 in the opening Check, although they misplaced the 2nd and third Exams 2-4 and 1-2 respectively.
The very first quarter was brilliant with both of those teams participating in conclusion-to-stop hockey and matching each other. For a modify, the Indian forward line showed some hunger and Mandeep took a shy at the Australian intention early.
The Kookaburras were not to be remaining at the rear of as they secured again-to-back penalty corners in the next moment but veteran India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was excellent below the bar, earning twin saves to deny their opponents.
India switched tactics in this match and employed midfield to create their assaults as an alternative of heading for the lengthy aerial balls.
India scored the first intention as Harmanpreet sounded the board in the 12th moment from the penalty corner with a intense drag flick in the left bottom corner of the goalkeeper.
Australia became more relentless immediately after conceding the objective and equalized in the 19th moment through Hayward who converted their fifth penalty corner.
Minutes later, Australia secured their sixth penalty corner but reserve goalkeeper Suraj Karkera manufactured a good preserve to preserve his side in the contest.
There was practically nothing to independent the two teams in the very first half as each matched each individual other adhere for stick.
In the 2nd 50 %, it was a mid-field slugfest with both India and Australia seemingly in no mood to give an inch as the 1-1 deadlock ongoing.
Two minutes into the closing quarter, Australia gained back-to-back penalty corners, the next of which was converted by Hayward with one more fierce lower flick to the right of reserve keeper Karkera, who replaced Krishan Bahadur in the staff.
6 minutes later on, Australia secured yet another penalty corner and this time Welch sounded the board.
India experienced their likelihood as very well in the type of 3 penalty corners in the previous 4 minutes but wasted the possibilities. The remaining Test of the collection will be performed right here on Saturday.