India were held to a 3-3 draw by Belgium in the 1st Test Match at Temse on Tuesday.
Sandeep Singh struck twice from penalty corners in the 26th & 28th minute while Vikas Pillay was on target in the 58th minute.
The goal scorers for Belgium were Jeff Thys (13th minute), Jerome Truyens ( 48th minute) & Thomas Briels (59th minute).
Belgium began strongly with an attack by Greg Gucassoff after being set up with an overhead pass from his captain Truyens but the Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh brought off a splendid save.
Shortly after, Belgium created a fast break through the centre but Cedric Charlier short wide.
India missed an opportunity to score when Vikas Pillay fumbled on the edge of the circle after a diagonal cross from Sandeep Singh.
Belgium wasted another opportunity after Thomas Briels snatched the ball from Gurbaj Singh but his one touch pass to Jeff Thys was hit wide.
With both teams struggling to control the ball because of the new turf, India mounted an attack from the left flank through Dharamvir Singh, Danish Mujtaba and Ravi Pal. They penetrated into the Belgian striking circle but the well taken shot by Dharamvir was saved by goalkeeper Jeremy Gucassoff.
Belgium took the lead in the 13th minute when a miscommunication between goalkeeper Sreejesh and Gurbaj left an unguarded Indian goal which Thys encashed on.
This was a wake up call for India who swung back into attack with one touch passes. They earned their first of the four penalty corners but Dhananjay Mahadik pushed off target from an indirect.
Sandeep Singh in the absence of the injured Sardar Singh manned the defence and his crisp passes set up many Indian attacks. He found the equalizer for India in the 26th minute and then gave them a 2-1 lead two minutes later from another penalty corner.
Belgium restored parity in the 48th minute when skipper Jerome Truyens found the mark from a penalty corner.
India broke into the lead again with Vikas Pillay being set up by Hari Prasad in the 58th minute, but Thomas Briels made it 3 -3 in the very next minute.
India were however lucky not to concede another goal at the fag end with Birendra Lakra Jr. making a goal line save after Sreejesh had been beaten.
The second test will be played at Antwerp on Thursday.