Black Sticks failed to win the third Test from India: Hockey Recap
The Black Stick National men hockey team played the third match of their three Tests on May 3, against India at the main stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia. The Black Stick lost the match by 3-5 despite a solitary effort by a newly added squad member Matt L’Huillier,
who tried hard to match up the score.
The Wellington’s drag-flick expert scored a hat-trick during the match, yet the Black Sticks failed to stop the Indian counterpart from winning the match.
Amazingly, the hat-trick goals were all what the Kiwis scored by the end of the match, which became possible by the solitary efforts of the only uncapped player in New Zealand’s squad.
Since the opening minutes of the match, India dominated the field with good ball control and passes, pressurising New Zealand from taking a goal initiative.
On the eighth minute mark, India received a penalty corner award that was converted when Dhananjay Mahadik shot a low hit past the Black Stick goal-keeper, Kyle Pontifex, opening the scores at 1-0.
Within the next five minutes, another goal hit the score-board from the Indian side when Rupinder Pal Singh struck a low shot into the goal post, converting India’s second penalty corner and the scores became 2-0.
Instantly, the Indians headed back for another attack from the mid-field, but the Black Sticks soon took control of the game and head the ball out of their defensive area. With efforts made by the Kiwi mid-fielders Ben Collier, Steve Edwards, Marcus Child
and Arun Panchia, the game fell into the hands of the Black Sticks.
Soon, New Zealand got into action and received its first penalty corner award in the 27th minute of the first half. This opportunity was availed by the 23-year-old from the capital, who expertly drag-flicked a shot high into the net, reducing their
deficit at 1-2.
L’Huillier wasted no time and repeated another power-packed shot into the Indian defensive circle when New Zealand received its second penalty corner in the 31st minute, leveling the scores at 2-2.
The match concluded at the scores locked-up at 2-2, until half-break.
As soon as the second half began, both the teams rushed to gain the lead over their opponents. However, India over-powered the Black Sticks when they took the ball control from the Kiwis and countered their attack in the 38th minute of the match.
This score was made by Baljit Singh Chandi with the ball tapped right into the goal post, taking up lead at 3-2.
Six minutes later, Rupinder struck a shot home and sealed the fourth Indian score at 4-2. Moreover in the 54th minute, Mahadik scored his second goal of the match, taking the Indian lead to 5-2.
With fifteen minutes remaining for the match to end, the Black Stick strikers Nick Wilson and Hugo Inglis tried hard to gain a potential scoring opportunity in order to reduce the trail. However, L’Huillier reappeared in action and completed his hat-trick
when the team was awarded their third penalty corner award. He flicked the ball high into the net, reaching up at 3-5.
Even though, New Zealand attempted attacks to score, but the Indian defence stood firm and determined, holding the Black Sticks to meet a score.
At the end, the match closed with no more additions to the score-board, leaving India victorious in the field at 5-3 over New Zealand.
The practice matches will help the teams to play well in the tomorrow’s Invitational, the 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, to be held from May 5-15 in Ipoh, Malaysia.
New Zealand is all set to play their first match against Pakistan on the opening day, tomorrow.
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