Pukekohe (New Zealand), May 17:
Indian women’s hockey team fought till the final hooter but went down 2-3 to New Zealand in the third game of the five-match series.
The hosts are now 3-0 up in the series.
After suffering a 2-8 loss in their previous game, the Indian women came out strongly today.
They looked a dangerous unit, putting up a structured performance with good attack, strong long drives, cross field passes, which put the hosts on the backfoot and constantly kept them in the hunt.
The visitors played aggressively right from the word go and their strategy paid off in the first quarter when they found an early 1-0 lead.
It was Deep Grace Ekka who converted a hard-hit penalty corner in the ninth minute after her first attempt found the foot of a New Zealand defender.
But the hosts were quick to equalise with Ella Gunson converting a penalty stroke in the 13th minute.
The Black Sticks ended the first quarter with a 2-1 lead with Deanna Ritchie scoring a field goal in the 15th minute. She was well assisted by captain Stacey Michelsen to score New Zealand’s second goal.
India found two good opportunities in the second quarter to score an equaliser when they earned back-to-back PCs in the 26th minute. But the higher-ranked New Zealand came up with textbook defence strategy to clear Indian skipper Rani’s strike. (PTI)
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