Victoria, Nov 30: Australia defeated India 4-3 in the final game of the two-match hockey series here on Wednesday, November 30. [India beat Australia in first of two-match hockey series]
Playing with 10 men for large periods of the third quarter, India defended stoutly but were edged past by the home side in a pulsating match.
In an ill-tempered third quarter that saw four yellow cards, three to Indian players, Australia wrested back the control, scoring an equaliser via a Jeremy Hayward penalty corner conversion in the 38th minute.
India were down by a player for long passages of play in the quarter and were even stuck with nine on the field for a while, with Nikkin Thimmaiah and Pardeep Mor both on yellow cards serving suspensions. The teams went into the final break level at 3-3.
Australia were the stronger team in the final period.
In the 54th minute, Hayward scored his second off a penalty corner to give them the lead.
India looked to make some inroads into the Australian defence and force an equaliser but the home side held on for a series levelling victory.
IANS