After we drew the first match 3-3, we were beaten 5-1 by the hosts in the second Test match. Like in the first match, today also we took the lead, but could not sustain the tempo for long.
We were a bit psyched in the beginning as our girls could not warm up properly. We reached the venue just before the commencement the match
as the journey from the Hotel took unusually long time. Loger than the
other day. We got down from the bus and straight away the match
commenced!
Unlike in the first Test, the Australians played a robust game. I have
no hesistation in calling it excessive body play. Some of their
tackles were so rough, which may be the norm nowadays in the
international circuit, but for many my girls it was just a shocking
experience. Especially, midfielder Subhadra Pradhan and defender Kanti
Baa nearly panicked. I had to do much talking to boost their morale
before fielding them back into the game.
This tactics of Australia certainly worked wonders for them, as they
could score goals easily. At the same time, I would not say our
defence was bad. In the given circumstances, they played well. I also
tried Pushpa Pradhan at defence for the first time in the tour, she did
well in the first half. Our defence successfully defended all but two
of the eight penalty corners. We got two penalty corners and converted
the first one in the first half.
Deepika also got her chance in the same half and the gifted goalkeeper
did her bit in thwarting the Australian sallies a couple of times.
Australian captain Katrina Powell is playing well, and I feel the
credit for the side should go to the whole team.
We will play one more test here tomorrow and in the evening we will set
off to New Zealand.
Results: Australia 5 India 1 (Half time 3-1)
Goals: Australia – Emily Halliday PC 24m, Ngaire Smith PC 33m, Karen
Smith FG 34m, Katrina Powell FG 38m, Louise Dobson PC 46m; India –
Sanggai Ihembal Chanu PC 22m)