India thrashed South Africa 4-0 with an energetic performance to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match hockey Test series at the National Stadium here on Monday.
The host gave a good account of its improved fitness by playing a fast and entertaining first half, in which Shivendra Singh (15th), Birendra Lakra (24th) and Sardar Singh (28th) shot home to give India a 3-0 lead at half-time. S.K. Uthappa (53rd) completed the tally in the second half.
S.V. Sunil, Tushar Khandker and K. Chinglesana Singh constantly troubled the South African defenders. Shivendra hit the target off a Manpreet Singh pass to put India ahead. The host increased the lead through Lakra, who tapped in a precise cross from Chinglesana on the left. Sardar, who occasionally moved up from his mid-field position to bring an element of surprise, scored a rare goal. Sunil, who sparkled with his fiery raids, was the architect of the third strike. From the right, he launched a quick shot into the circle and in no time Khandker deflected it to an unmarked Sardar to complete the formalities. The home team lost its coordination a little bit after the change of ends and struggled to finish off moves. However, Uthappa scored off a fine V.S. Vinaya cross from outside the circle to record the lone success of the second half.
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The defence had some testing times, but goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh made some fabulous saves to deny the South Africans any goal.
India's chief coach Michael Nobbs praised Sunil and youngsters — defender Harbir Singh and Uthappa — for their showing.
“We made a lot of mistakes in the second half. We could have scored six or seven more goals,” Nobbs summed up the team's performance.
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The result: India 4 (Shivendra Singh, Birendra Lakra, Sardar Singh, S.K. Uthappa) bt South Africa 0.