Hockey: Harmanpreet's brace helps India beat NZ 3-0

Finally, the misfiring striker Mandeep Singh became the poacher with a delightful goal but Harmanpreet Singh was the toast of the team with his double penalty corner strike that sent India hurtling past New Zealand 3-0 at the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament

India's Harmanpreet Singh celebrates his goal against  New Zealand yesterday

Finally, the misfiring striker Mandeep Singh became the poacher with a delightful goal but Harmanpreet Singh was the toast of the team with his double penalty corner strike that sent India hurtling past New Zealand 3-0 at the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament.

After this win, India now have four points from two matches. Indian coach Roelant Oltmans joked about the absence of rain and 'no lightning' before India's match but speaking about the performance of the team, he said, "I don't know if GB had a better defence on Saturday but after the 1st quarter, we settled down and didn't let them (Kiwis) have the ball."

Mandeep and Harmanpreet may have got the goals but Pardeep Mor was the player who single-handedly terrorised the Kiwi defence on the right flank.

After a sluggish first quarter, which even surprised Oltmans, the Indians found some fluidity in the 2nd quarter. Chinglesana was the live wire in the midfield and it was his strike from outside the circle that Mandeep bent over, curving his stick inwards to deflect the ball past the Kiwi goalkeeper Richard Joyce.

Four minutes later in the 27th minute, Harmanpreet flicked all along the carpet off India's first penalty corner to lead 2-0.

India's third goal came in the 4th quarter when India earned its 4th penalty corner and Harmanpreet's flick went flying in for India to lead 3-0.

India take on the World Champions Australia tomorrow.

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