The Hockeyroos have produced a gritty efficiency to safe a character-filled come-from-behind 3-2 victory over a vastly improved India at MATE Stadium in Adelaide.
In an evening of firsts, Tatum Stewart’s first two worldwide targets both facet of Pippa Morgan’s maiden Hockeyroos strike on her twenty fifth birthday in simply her second recreation noticed the Australians stave off a resurgent India.
The outcome offers the Hockeyroos an unassailable two-nil lead within the collection forward of Sunday’s third and closing match.
India commanded the early exchanges nevertheless it was the Hockeyroos who struck first when Stewart rifled a well-executed drag flick into the backboard within the twelfth minute.
Nevertheless, the lead lasted barely a minute as Sangita Kumari completed off a sweetly labored group transfer to attain her second objective of the collection and draw India degree.
The Indians had their tails up and within the seventeenth minute they went forward when Gurjit Kaur despatched a drag flick into the highest nook that gave Bartram no likelihood.
The Hockeyroos have been being pressured into uncharacteristic turnovers, nonetheless they defended astutely to enter halftime only a objective down.
A thirty eighth minute Hockeyroos penalty nook had the hosts again on degree phrases when a well-rehearsed routine had Morgan expertly deflect the ball into the again of the online.
The objective gave the Hockeyroos a spark as they lifted their urgency and depth and so they have been rewarded when the umpire signalled a penalty stroke for an infringement within the circle from a penalty nook.
Stewart stepped up and clinically transformed the stroke to make it 3-2 and arrange a tense closing quarter-hour.
India went to a full press and surged ahead to attempt to keep within the collection, forcing the inexperienced Hockeyroos to reveal all their composure.
“It was actually thrilling, particularly as a defender,” stated Stewart, who was named participant of the match.
“When you’ve got alternatives to attain on the highest of the circle you actually need to benefit from them, so it was nice to attain a pair.”