Depleted India fails first Test

A depleted India blew away a third minute lead to go down 1-2 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the first of the four-match hockey Test series...

A depleted India blew away a third minute lead to go down 1-2 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the first of the four-match hockey Test series here today.

The Test, first between the arch-rivals in five years, failed to live upto expectations as both the sides played lacklustre hockey, much to the disappointment of the fans who had thronged the stadium with the hope of witnessing a thriller between the traditional rivals.

India, playing without the services of several regulars including Dhanraj Pillay and Gagan Ajit Singh, raised hopes of an upset win against their more fancied opponents when Arjun Halappa gave them the lead in the third minute.

But ace penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas neutralised the lead in the 17th minute before Rehan Butt8217;s stunning goal in the 26th extended Pakistan8217;s domination over India in recent times.

India have lost all the seven matches they have played against Pakistan this year.

The match hardly had any intensity, generally associated with Indo-Pak clashes, but that could be attributed to the absence of several players in the Indian ranks.

Both the sides played cautiously for most part of the match without getting into the attacking mode and it ensured that the match progressed at a dull pace.

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India paid the price for being too defensive in their approach as they could trouble the Pakistan defence on a very few occasions 8212; just twice in the first half and a couple of times more in the second.

They also seemed to have learned too little from their poor show in the Olympics, where they finished seventh, as they kept on making the same mistakes that they committed in Athens.

Struggling to play as a unit, they were guilty of making wrong passes, poor trapping and faulty clearances.

India must consider themselves lucky not to have conceded more than a couple of goals in the first half as their more fancied opponents missed several opportunities including three penalty corners during the period.