The photographer standing next to me turned, and said with wide eyes, “that’s great goal”. He was referring to the goal of really hard working Vandana Kataria, a goal that ended Aussie girls hope of winning the second match at Rockingham.

I was busy with my camera to get the action, and missed the vital part of that goal sequence. May be I was loathed in to the shell because the girls missed three penalty corners in the second half.

I understood the significance of that goal, the beauty of it, minutes later when I rushed to CR Coach before he rushes back to team bus.

CR Kumar, a thinking coach, but has been without much of luck with the present set of girl, was as usual calm and composed. Not elated or overtly glad, but his words, measured as they were, gave a true picture of the goal that got the photographer exclaim.

Aussies are very good at penalty corner defence. They close almost all the avenues by which a team can score. So, we have to find an indirect sequence that will still beat them. Am happy because after four tries that went waste (in the previous penalty corners), we adopted this angle and it worked”

He also said, rather wee bit uncharacteristically: “With better play we could have defeated with larger margin”.

He is statistically correct. See the following moves :

10th Min: Left winger Ritu sends a powerful cross intothe circle, with no Australians left, Vandana could have easily deflected, but hurried and let the ball roll across the goalmouth.

20th Min: India’s second Penalty corner, hit not taken

24th Min: In an one-to-one situation, from very close range, India’s shot goal hits the right post and sped away

26th Min: Kirandeep misses from near goalmouth after Vandana worked hard and brought the ball to thus far.

42nd Min: Captain Saba Anjum was one to one with new goalie Gilbert, but hit out after getting the goalie on wrong foot. A sure chance go abegging.

50th Min: Ritu does the same, emulating her captain.

So, the missing story goes on…

As Kumar says there is a marked improvement in the midfield and in the defence. Both Joydeep Kaur and Jaspreet Kaur were picture of confidence today. Asunta Lakra, at her usual pivot position was truly good. There were more moves upfront by forwards compared to their famed rivals – who obviously put out their second best combination – but for missing chances the result could have been as that the match that followed: Australia beat New Zealand men 5-1.

The Indian team after MK Kaushik, was presenting a pathetic picture, even unable to score required goals semis against teams like Ghana in the CWG 2010 that would have otherwise sent them to the semis, is showing improvements here and there.

Its till long way to go for the girls. For the team that is fixing its eyes on the Olympic Qualifier, the Saturday stuff at Rockingham, is a refreshing change. Though we all know its half-strength Australia that is pitted inthe series.

Am happy to start the long Australia tour on a bright note, of course.