Kookaburras defeat India in hockey finale

The Kookaburras have clinched a 4-1 series victory over India, winning 5-4 in the final match in Adelaide in a promising dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

The Kookaburras showed they will be a force to be reckoned with at next month's World Cup after a 5-4 win in the fifth and final match of the series against India in Adelaide.

Tom Wickham's impressive first-half brace and goals from Jacob Anderson, Jake Whetton and player-of-the series Aran Zalewski ensured the Kookaburras clinched the series 4-1.

An average of five goals a game across the series underlined the Kookaburras' attacking potency.

Having this firepower at his disposal would be pleasing for coach Colin Batch, however he will be keen to tighten the team's defence after conceding 17 times in the high-scoring series.

"We've got a lot of depth in the squad so we hope that transfers to a good performance at the World Cup but we need to get them playing consistently at a high level," Batch said.

"We saw some really good passages of play today but we also had four goals scored against us again so that's something we have to correct."

Evidence that Wickham was in a goal-scoring mood came after just two minutes as he received a pass from Zalewski down the centre channel before rifling home an unstoppable fore stick shot.

After the Kookaburras managed to fend off four Indian penalty corners in the first quarter, Wickham was at it again two minutes into the second quarter.

India captain Harmanpreet Singh pegged a goal back when he fired a trademark drag flick low to the right of Kookaburras goalkeeper Andrew Charter.

However Zalewski restored the Kookaburras' two-goal lead just before halftime.

India hit back again, this time through Amit Rohidas who had time to pick his spot and beat Charter at the near post.

The Kookaburras continued to look threatening whenever they entered their attacking 25 metre zone and when they spread the Indian defence wide on the right, Daniel Beale did well near the baseline to find Anderson who flicked a half volley into the ceiling of the net.

When Ky Willott's desperation to keep a goal-scoring opportunity alive for Whetton to shoot on the turn and score, the Kookaburras led 5-2 with six minutes to play.

But like they have done throughout the series, India refused to hoist the white flag, scoring moments after Whetton's goal before Harmanpreet thundered in his second with another drag flick in the final minute to make it 5-4.


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