Dharamvir Singh’s strike provides India with the win in the 3rd test against NZ

10/09/2015

India marched ahead of hosts, New Zealand in the 3rd match of their four-test New Zealand series with a tightly fought 3-2 win. This is India’s second win on the bounce, after losing the first test. The match went to the wire as Dharamvir Singh scored the winning goal in the last minute of the fourth quarter.

New Zealand started the match on the front foot and dominated most of the possession in the early phase of the game. The home side failed to create too many openings past the Indian defense.

India slowly found their feet, and in the 10 minute of the game they were awarded a penalty corner. Rupinder Pal Singh stepped up and thrashed the ball into the top corner to provide India with an early lead.

After the goal, Roelant Oltmans’ men found a lot of confidence, and it reflected in their play. They pressed the New Zealand players high up the pitch and once they regained possession, they kept it for a considerable amount of time. Despite their dominance, it was the Black Sticks who scored against the run of play.

It was the first good move that New Zealand managed to produce in the second quarter and Jared Panchia was the man who provided the finishing touch. The momentum changed after this goal and the Black Sticks found a spring in their steps.

The home side dominated the rest of the second quarter and it was Sreejesh who stopped them from taking the lead with a brilliant save. New Zealand also failed to convert a penalty corner in the 28 minute of the game with Nick Haig shooting wide.

In the third quarter, India once again regained their lead with Ramandeep Singh turning the ball into the back of a net after a sweeping move down the left wing.

It didn’t take long for the Black Sticks to respond back though, as Steve Edwards leveled the score. It seemed like the match was heading for a draw, when in the dying moments of the fourth quarter, Dharamvir Singh scored the winner.

The match ended 3-2 in favour of India, as they go into the fourth test with a 2-1 lead against the hosts.