Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Showing fine marksmanship, England shocked the World No. 1 Australia 3-2 in a pool B encounter of the Hockey World Cup here Sunday.Australia paid a heavy penalty for missing chances, especially in the first 20 minutes when they were all over their rivals at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.

After squandering three clear chances, the Aussies went ahead courtsey a fine penalty stroke conversion by their captain Jamie Dwyer (23rd minute), but their joy was shortlived as Ashley Jackson equalised in the next minute. James Tindall then converted a penalty corner (33rd), as England led 2-1 at the halfway stage.

Changing sides, Tindall again scored (45th), before Dwyer got his second goal of the match, as England registered their second World Cup win over Australia in nine meetings between the two.

The earlier English triumph had come 35 years back in Kuala Lumpur.

Much of the credit for England’s upset victory goes to their midfield, where 29-year-old Ben Hawes, turning out in his 175th international game, was outstanding.

Australia’s first goal followed a combined move that saw England custodian James Fair block the ball with his body and the umpire awarded the easiest of the setpieces which the veteran Dwyer put home.

After Jackson levelled with a drag flick, Tindall made it 2-1 as Tindall found the target with a penalty corner variation that saw Jackson selling a dummy.

The Kookaburas, who earned as many as a dozen penalty corners, started applying the pressure from the start of the second half, but the England defence stood firm.

The climax, however, happened at the other end, as Tindal showed great opportunism yet again. Iain Mackey’s hit came off the post and Tindall followed well to put in from close.

Australia seemed desperate to stage a comeback, but the only product of their efforts in the rest of the match was a penalty corner goal by Dwyer.