India played some amazing hockey to register a 3-1 win over New Zealand in the second hockey Test match of the four-match series at Nelson on Wednesday. Ramandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay and Nikkin Thimmaiah score for India, while Kane Russell scored for the Black Sticks.
As a result of the win, India levelled the Test series 1-1 after losing the first Test 2-0 on Tuesday.
The men in blue were hurt by their performance in the first Test match and came out all guns blazing in the second encounter as Ramandeep helped India take lead with a strike in the 13th minute. New Zealand came close to equalising in the second quarter, but India's goalie PR Sreejesh came up with some good saves to help India walk off the turf at halftime with their lead intact.
Sreejesh, who has been in fine form of late, continued with his brilliant display as he came with some tremendous saves in the third quarter as well. However, the Black Sticks found their way through, scoring the all-important equaliser courtesy Kane Russell in the 45th minute.
With the scoreline reading 1-1 and just 15 minutes to play, India showed their class as forward Lalit Upadhyay scored a wonderful goal in the 52nd minute to help India once again take lead in the match. The crucial goal from the forward lifted the entire 11 players on the field as they came up with a good all-round play in the last ten minutes, which resulted in India's third goal via Thimmaiah in the final minute of the game.
India and New Zealand will play the third Test match on Friday in Christchurch.
