India lose 1-3 to England in hockey

BIRMINGHAM - India lost 1-3 to England in the first of the three matches of their hockey Test series here.

The match was played under a torrential downpour Wednesday night. England led 2-1 at half-time and scored through Ben Hawes (1st minute), Barry Middleton (18th) and Richard Smith (68th).

The lone Indian goal came from Dhananjay Mahadik in the 8th minute from the first of five penalty corners.

After an opening ceremony that included the Lord Mayor of Birmingham meeting the two teams, England got off to a perfect start with a goal inside 60 seconds through Hawes.

Two minutes later England earned their first of 10 penalty corners but Ashley Jackson’s effort was thwarted by Vikram Pillay.

India earned their first penalty corner six minutes later.

The ball from Gurwinder Chandi found its way to Mahadik courtesy V.S Vinaya’s dummy and the Indian armyman flicked the ball inside the post to equalise.

England took the lead again in the 18th minute, scoring through their fourth penalty corner. James Tindall shot powerfully from the top of the circle but after hitting the stick of Pillay the ball went off the Indian territory. Middleton seized the opportunity after the ball bobbled off Sandeep Singh’s stick and swept home.

The slippery conditions made things difficult for the players as India began to reassert themselves in the match. Indian forwards, though, blew several opportunities.

With the rain easing, India missed a sharp chance to equalise as Prabodh Tirkey hit the ball over the goalpost.

India had another chance to restore parity six minutes into the second half when Fair saved a low and angular dragflick by Sandeep.

Prabhjot and Tushar Khandker then failed to latch on to a Prabodh set-up inside the circle.

With the clock running down, Richard Smith made sure of an English victory when he smashed home from beyond the penalty spot off a corner rebound in the 68th minute.

The second Test will be played Friday night.