3rd hockey Test: India pip New Zealand 3-2 for series lead

CHRISTCHURCH: An engaging game of hockey ended in India’s favour 3-2 courtesy a superb late goal by Dharamvir Singh with 40 seconds left on the clock, giving the tourists an unassailable series lead at St Bede’s College on Friday ahead of the final game on Sunday.

Inspired by two stunning goals from Rupinder Pal Singh and Ramandeep Singh, India held the lead until the 52nd minute when a late goal from Steve Edwards levelled the scores 1-1. Then came the decisive strike from Dharamvir in the dying stages of the match, after which the hosts could not recover.

India took the lead in the 10th minute through a penalty corner converted in rasping manner by Rupinder, after which the tourists put New Zealand under pressure early in the second quarter with some impressive stick work. The hosts drew level with Jared Panchi netting his second goal of the series with about seven minutes remaining in the first half, a lovely piece of movement through India’s defence that saw the forward slice the ball around goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. That took the teams into the break at 1-1.

After the resumption, India were once again put onto the advantage by a bullet strike from Ramandeep and with Sreejesh pulling off a couple of brilliant saves, Sardar Singh’s outfit held out until, with eight minutes left on the clock, the Black Sticks hit back with Edwards producing a lovely goal in tandem with assistance from striker Nick Wilson.

Both teams put in a lot of running during the last four minutes, with India particularly looking to put pressure on the ball carrier, and the match seemed set for a drawn until Dharamvir came up with the decisive goal.

The Black Sticks had taken the lead with a 2-0 win at Nelson on Monday, but India’s defence held the Kiwis out a day later with a 3-1 success to level the scoreline.

 

SOURCE: PTI