Our tour opener was an equal match, either team could have been the winner. The Kiwis played a patient and purposeful hockey all through. Thursday’s match, the first of our four planned Tests, was just the opposite of our experience last week in Australia. The Hockeyroos team, as the Australian women is branded, may be the top two teams of the world but they were too physical against us. But on Thursday here in New Zealand we enjoyed the game as the match was played the way it should be.

Annarita scored our goal, but in the end we ended the day with 1-2 score. At least we missed a couple of sitters. But for that we could have at least easily drawn the match. Once Saba Anjum, who otherwise had a good game, missed a sitter, hitting an open chance outside. Twice our shots hit the post and spun back into play. In one occasion, we lost a one to one opportunity too.

We got three penalty corners and conceded the same number too. Suman Bala took the first while the second drill involved captain Surajlata Devi. Having played the opener reasonably well, we can only aim better in the remaining encounters.

New Zealand team: Helen Clarke, Meredith Orr, Karen

Syddall, Lisa Walton (Auckland), Stacey Carr, Rachel Robertson, Diana

Weavers (Canterbury), Tara Drysdale, Emily Naylor, Melody Rowe, Kayla

Sharland, Rachel Sutherland (Manawatu), Lizzy Igasan, Leisen Jobe,

Jaimee Provan (North Harbour), Beth Jurgeleit, Caryn Paewai, Suzie

Muirhead (captain), Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington).