Resurgent India stun Australia 1-0, take 2-1 lead in four-match hockey series

The Indian men's hockey team seems to have put behind the nightmarish 4-0 opening match defeat against Australia, as the Terry Walsh coached side produced another upset against the home side, this time winning 1-0.

The win gives India a surprise 2-1 lead in the four-match series, which has all but poised them, to pull off a historic series swoop over a strong Australian side.

India skipper, Sardar Singh, was missing in action from this game, and the role of captain was played out by Rupinder Pal Singh, who incidentally also marked his 100th international match for the country.

SV Sunil, who had scored in the previous game, struck once again, as he gave India the lead, early on in the third quarter, post his fine one-two move with Akashdeep Singh.

Sunil looked in pristine touch throughout the game, as he made the Australian defence crumble, with his pace and trickery, and if not for some solid defending from the home side, India could have scored even more.

The home side were later a man down, when Eddie Ockenden was sent off for a rough tackle on Manpreet Singh.

Despite a horde of penalty corner chances later on, neither team could convert it into something substantial, which meant that the score remained 1-0 till the end of the final hooter.

The fourth and final test match will be played at Perth on November 9.