England beat India to clinch hockey series

BIRMINGHAM - England overcame a two-goal deficit to beat India 3-2 in the third and final hockey test here.

With Sunday’s victory, England clinched the three Test hockey series 2-1. England won the opener Wednesday while India levelled the series with a victory Friday.

India led 2-1 at half time through strikes from Vikram Pillay and S.V Sunil in the 3rd and 18th minutes, respectively. Ashley Jackson converted two penalty corners (30th and 50th) and Iain Mackay scored the match winner for England in the 64th minute.

India opened the scoring through a penalty stroke that was slotted home by Vikram Pillay.

India were playing with confidence and went 2-0 up after good interplay by Rajpal Singh along the baseline. The Chandigarh lad set up Sunil who smashed home.

Thereafter England enjoyed a spell of prolonged possession but their probing was only rewarded with a number of long corners as India defended in numbers.

Jackson’s penalty corner effort was palmed over the bar by Adrian D’souza but he found the target six minutes later, unleashing a powerful dragflick high into the left corner.

England found the equaliser when Jackson and Martin Jones combined well down the left flank but the former’s left handed reverse deflected over the bar. HOwever, with 20 minutes remaining, he beat D’souza from a penalty corner.

With the Indian fans drumming in the stands and looking to inspire their players, the men in blue went on the attack through Prabodh Tirkey, who drove at the heart of the English defence only to find Richard Mantell and Richard Smith standing firm.

England scored the match winner with one of the best flowing moves from Rob Moore and Richard Alexander that was given finishing touches by Mackay.

India were awarded a penalty corner with just 14 seconds on the clock but Halappa’s effort was blocked.

India will now travel to Antwerp where they will take on Belgium in a three Test series.