New Delhi: India maintained their good run in the five match test series against South Africa as they scraped past the visitors 2-1 in the second match of the Five Match Test Series being played here at the Dhyanchand Stadium on Tuesday.
India who looked lethal in the opening game where they won 4-0 lacked the same conviction and required drag flicker Sandeep Singh's dying moments heroics to eke out the visitors.
Coming off into the match with nine changes did disturb India’s winning combination and it was clearly seen in the way they played. The mid-field which was on a roll in the first match looked detached and lacked co-ordination with the forward line.
The visitors looked like as though they were on a retribution drive and their mid-field combination looked much more organized as compared to their Indian counterpart. They had a real good chance to score within the first 10 minutes of the game, but Bharat Chetri who came in place of P R Sreejesh made a nice save to save India the early blushes.
Looking off rhythm during the majority of the first half, the men in blue got their first real chance of scoring in the 30th minute but a wide shot by Dharamvir Singh foiled it. However, just two minutes before the half time whistle, India managed to draw the first blood of the match through Chingelsana Singh off a Sandeep’s pass who exhibited some brilliant dribbling skills.
After the change, South Africa came out all guns blazing and were on the attack right from the word go. Their forward line kept Indian defence on their toes and earned three back to back penalty corners but could not capitalize on any of them.
The host however crumbled under the pressure and South Africa drew level in the 43rd minute through Lance Louw from the goal mouth. The goal saw their forward line getting more active but lack of good finishing saw foiled all their opportunities.
With just two minutes left for the match to get over, Sandeep fired in a powerful flick to see India home.
The win however could not impress Team India’s coach Nobbs and he felt that his boys were not thorough enough today. “We made a lot of unforced errors and we were lucky to win today,” said Nobbs.
By Rajorshi Moitra
Indian Sports News