SAS 2016: New Zealand overcome gritty India

Indian team presented a perfect defence skills but that was not adequate to get a win or draw, went down 1-2 to defending champions New Zealand in their fifth match of the Silver Jubilee Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Trailing by 1-2, India waged a grim battle to even out the score but the Kiwi’s defence and Pontifex in the cage would have different ideas.

India got two penalty corners but Rupinder Pal and Harmanpreet could not beat Pontifex. Harman’s low grounder off India’s third and last PC was just anticipated by right diving goalie, who put the stick dot on the goalline to deflect.

Earlier, Rupinder Pal’s high drag was twice padded away by the Kiwi’s goalie.

On the other hand, Indian defence showed enormous grittiness to ward of numerous well conceived Indian moves.

Jasjit Kular, Rupinder Pal, Manpreet, Surender SIngh put up a good show, often blunting the Kiwi’s attack in the nick of time.

Eventless first quarter was followed by somewhat action filled second quarter, in which India and New Zealand land got a penalty corner apiece. While India missed out, the Kiwis Kone Russel struck to the right of goalie Harjot, to post the match’s first goal in the 28th minute.

Talwinder and Mandeep’s combination inside D gave India moments of good fight when the latter turned in a good feed of Talwinder to draw the score 1-1 at 36th minutes.

However, Kiwis’s second goal stood remainder of time.