NZ rout India 5-1 in Azlan Shah hockey

India were thrashed 1-5 by New Zealand in their first match of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey here yesterday.

It was a poor display from the Indians despite the fact that New Zealand had only 16 players at their disposal — Blair Hilton was ruled out for appendicitis and Hugo Inglis was indisposed.

Simon Child (1st minute), Andy Hayward (34th), Nick Wilson (59th), Stephen Jenness (61st) and Matt L'huillier (65th) scored for New Zealand. Shivendra Singh struck the solitary goal for India in the sixth minute.

New Zealand took the lead just 45 seconds as Child unleashed a shot that beat Indian custodian Sreejesh Parathu.

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