Potchefstroom (South Africa): India registered a thumping 10-2 victory over host South Africa in the FIH Pro League match.
Harmanpreet Singh's four goals helped India get past South Africa on Sunday despite a gutsy opening half where South Africa trailed 3-1.
Harmanpreet Singh (36', 52', 60', 60'), Shilanand Lakra (27', 48'), Surender Kumar (15'), Mandeep Singh (28'), Sumit (45') and Shamsher Singh (56') notched goals for India.
Daniel Bell and Connor Beauchamp scored goals for South Africa. It was a game of two halves in Potchefstroom when South Africa took on India for a second time. South Africa drew first as the Cassiem brothers, Mustapha and Dayaan, combined for a penalty corner that Bell converted past keeper Krishan Pathak.
Before the end of the quarter Surender Kumar equalised while Matt d'Souza was taking rest with a green card. A great build up in the second quarter allowed Manpreet Singh to create space for Shilanand Lakra and he scored his first goal for India to give his side a 2-1 advantage.
Brilliant work by Dilpreet Singh sets up Mandeep Singh for India's third. At half-time India was leading 3-1. In the third quarter South Africa was awarded a penalty stroke as Dayaan Cassiem was pushed on route to goal by Jarmanpreet Singh. Jethro Eustice's stroke was saved well by Pathak.
South Africa had more chances as they hit the bar in the 33rd minute and India started to turn things on. Harmanpreet earned a penalty corner and Sumit tallied before the end of the third. India continued with goals coming late in each of the third and fourth quarter including three more for Harmanpreet.
Speaking after the game, Harmanpreet said: "We are always talking about the team and that was a team effort. We needed to get back after the France game (India lost 5-2) and think what we could learn and improve upon."
India currently stand third in the Pro League standings with 9 points after four games. South Africa sits at the bottom of the table with no win in four matches. (UNI)