India lose 2-4 against Australia in second hockey Test, trail series 0-2

The Indian mens hockey team dished out a muchimproved performance as compared to its previous game but it still lost 24 to Australia in the second Test of the fivematch IND vs AUS Hockey Test series on SundayAfter the 15 drubbing they received on Saturday the Indians were able to play in equal terms against their formidable opponents in the first and second quarters of the matchIn fact India were 21 ahead at half time but some sloppy defending in the third quarter cost them dearly as the hosts pumped in three goals to register their second straight winJeremy Hayward 6th and 34th minutes converted two penalty corners while Jacob Anderson 42nd and Nathan Ephraums 45th found the net from field efforts for AustraliaIndias both goals came off penalty corner conversions by Jugraj Singh 9th and skipper Harmanpreet Singh 30thThe Indians started on the front foot in the game with vicecaptain Hardik Singh heavily involved in the middle fieldBut Australia took the lead from their first penalty corner in the sixth minute through Hayward who sounded the board with a powerful low dragflick to the right of Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak who started the match under the bar in place of veteran PR SreejeshThe Kookaburras looked threatening after taking the lead as they earned backtoback penalty corners soon after but the Indian defence stood tallThe Indians slowly got their footing into the match and started to put pressure on the Australian defence and in the process secured three consecutive penalty cornersWhile the first two penalty corners went abegging Jugraj drew parity for the visitors in the ninth minute with a fierce flick to the left top corner of the Australian goalThe goal seemed to have given a lot of confidence to the Indians as Abhishek came tantalisingly close to doubling the visitors lead in the 12th minuteAn unmarked Abhishek received a fine ball inside the Australian D with only the keeper to beat but he hit the cross barAlso Read Maiden hockey title for Don Bosco girlsA minute from the first quarter Australia secured another penalty corner but the push was not perfectIn the second quarter the Indian defence had to withstand immense pressure from the Kookaburras but didnt falterJust 41 seconds from halftime India secured a penalty corner and skipper Harmanpreet made no mistake to score his 180th career goal and hand his side a 21 leadTrailing by a goal the Australians came out all guns blazing after the change of ends and pumped in three goals to show their domination over IndiaFour minutes into the third quarter Australia secured a penalty corner and Hayward scored his second of the match to level the scoresIt was yet another lesson for the Indians who played catchup hockey and failed to match the Australians for the second consecutive dayIt was relentless pressure from Australia which broke the Indian defence on more than one occasionAnderson registered his name in the scoresheet in the 42nd minute deflecting from a build up by Matt Dawson and Jack Welch literally catching Indian custodian Pathak offguardThe Indians secured two more penalty corners minutes later but Harmanpreet failed to breach the Australian defenceJust a few seconds left in the third quarter Ephraums found himself at the right place at the right time to slap in a deflection from an Indian defender past Pathak from a quick turnover to make it 42The fourth quarter witnessed a cagey affair from both sides as the Indians went all out in attacking in search of goals while the Australians were contend in sitting deep in their defenceEven though the Indians tried hard but they failed to create any real scoring opportunity with the home team defending in numbersThe third Test match of the series titled Perth International Festival of Hockey will be played here on April 10The IND vs AUS Hockey Test series is a part of preparations for this years Paris Olympics for both the sidesWith agency inputs