New Zealand struck late to hold India to a 2-2 draw in the Pool A opener of the Champions Challenge I hockey tournament at Salta, Argentina, on Sunday, according to information received here.
India were leading 1-0 at half-time after Tushar Khandker scored the first goal in the 30th minute only to see New Zealand restore parity via a Dean Couzins penalty stroke just two minutes into the second half.
However, Shivendra Singh scored again to put India ahead in the 51st minute but it too was shortlived as Hayward hit the equaliser seven minutes later.
The Kiwis were on the attack with the active Ryan Archibald prompting the moves.
However, the Indian defence was vigilant and never let the Kiwis really threaten with goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza, too, doing a fine job.
The game continued at high pace with neither team able to take control.
Phillip Burrows saw a deflection from close range go inches wide and a hard shot crash on the post, but it were India who finally opened the scoring through Khandker at the conclusion of a quick counter- attack with the help of Gurwinder Singh Chandi and skipper Rajpal Singh that caught the New Zealand defence off guard.
The Black Sticks besieged the Indian the Indian goal in the final min utes of the opening session earning two penalty cor ners but were kept at bay by a solid defence spearheaded by Sardara Singh.
The Kiwis remained in an attacking mode even after the break that saw them convert a penalty stroke after D’Souza fouled Couzins inside the D area. However, they had little time to rejoice, as Shivendra nearly scored on the next attack.
His deflection from close range hit the post, but he had a similar opportunity shortly afterwards and this time he made no mistake to beat goalie Kyle Pontifex to help India take the lead.
The Kiwis though, were not down yet and tied once again when Hayward scored from a penalty corner.
In another Pool A game, Belgium edged past China 4-3.
Pakistan with two penalty corners conversions by veteran Sohail Abbas defeated Canada 2-1 in Pool B with Wayne Fernandes scoring the lone goal for the vanquished.
Later, Pedro Ibarra scored a hat-trick to help hosts Argentina thrash South Africa 6-2 in another Pool B match.