Canada hold India to 1-1 draw in second Test

NEW DELHI: Indian eves squandered a one goal lead to play out a 1-1 draw against Canada in their second game of the four-match Test series at Tamanawis Park, Surrey on Friday.

India skipper Surinder Kaur (41st minute) broke the deadlock early in the second half but her Canadian counterpart Stephanie Nesbitt (63rd) drew parity just seven minutes from the hooter to deny the visitors the win and a 2-0 lead in the series.

India had earlier defeated the hosts 3-2 in the opener on Wednesday and is now leading the series 1-0.

India started the match on an attacking note as they earned as many as four penalty corners in the first five minutes of play.

India got a golden chance to secure the lead from the fourth penalty corner when Canadian custodian Azelia Liu was beaten all ends up but defender Stephanie Jameson made a goal-line save to deny the visitors.

India earned three more penalty corners in the second half and were awarded a penalty stroke from the last one when Samantha Smith used her body to stop a deflection.

Surinder took the responsibility on her to convert the penalty stroke and made no mistake to give India the lead.

However, an unmarked Nesbitt equalised in the 63rd minute, comfortably slotting past Indian goalkeeper Deepika Murty from Katie Baker.

The two teams will lock horns in the third Test tomorrow at the same venue, a Hockey India release said.