Hockey: India blank Queensland-NSW combine 7-0

Skipper Sandeep pumped in 3 penalty corners as India thrashed the Queensland-NSW combine 7-0.

Brisbane : Skipper Sandeep Singh pumped in three penalty corners as India whitewashed the Queensland-New South Wales State combine 7-0 in the second outing of their Australia-New Zealand tour at the State Hockey Centre in Brisbane on Sunday.

Sandeep scored in the third, 19th and 60th minutes to lead from the front, while Shivendra Singh (23rd minute), Tushar Khandekar (40th), Arjun Halappa (42nd) and Ignace Tirkey (48th) also chipped in with one goal each.

India, who had beaten the combined state side 8-1 on Saturday, led 3-0 at half time.

India broke into an early lead when Aussie defender Nick Russ was struck on the foot inside the circle. The resultant penalty corner was executed to perfection by Sandeep as he flicked low to the left of Australian Olympic goalkeeper Stephen Lambert.

The Indian midfield again tormented their opponents, repeatedly breaking through their defence.

The Indian captain was soon at it again making it 2-0 with a powerful drag-flick, this time to Lambert’s right.

Shortly after, Vikram Pillay stole the ball in the midfield and mounted an attack with young striker Sarwanjit Singh to set up Shivendra who drove home the visitors’ third goal.

India soon suffered a blow when Rajpal Singh, who scored a hat-trick on Saturday, was struck on his shin by defender Jason Wilson. The winger could take no further part in the match as he had to be sent to hospital for stitches.

India shuffled their players after the break and surged further ahead with Khandekar making it 4-0 in the 40th minute.

Two minutes later, Halappa produced a breath-taker when he exhibited classic ball control and body feints before deftly pushing past Lambert from a narrow angle.

The Indian domination continued as Ignace Tirkey found the mark in the 48th minute with his trademark backhander atop the circle which was followed by Sandeep rounding off the tally from the sixth penalty corner 12 minutes later.

India will next play the Australian Development squad here on Tuesday.