The Indian women’s hockey team held Australia to a 1-1 draw in the third Test but lost the series 2-0.

World number three Indian women’s team drew world number three Australia 1-1 in the third match of the three-match bilateral series here on Sunday.

With this result, Australia won the first two matches 4–2 and 3–2 to take the three-match series 2–0.

In the third match played on Sunday, the hosts took the lead in the 24th minute when Madison Brooks scored from the field after a barren first quarter in which the Indians took the lead.

The Indians continued their search for an equalizer and in the 41st minute, vice-captain and senior defender Deep Grace Ekka converted a penalty corner to make it 1-1.

Both the teams were evenly matched in the fourth quarter but the Indians could not take advantage of the hosts’ presence of mind when Hannah Cullum-Sanders was sent to the sin-bin with a green card.

Though the Indian team looked the better side on the field as they got eight penalty corners but could convert only one of them. Australia got four penalty corners but could not score a single goal.

The Indians started well and earned two penalty corners in the first minute but could not capitalize on these chances. Australia had their PC in the 8th minute but that too went begging.

The Indians earned three penalty corners in the second quarter but also received two green cards – Nisha and Sharmila Devi – and Hockey Russia took advantage in the 24th minute when Brooks Maddison scored.

However, in the end, it proved not to be enough as deep Grace Ekka pulled India level in the third quarter.

The Indian women’s hockey team will next play two matches against Australia A in Adelaide as part of the tour as part of their preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in China in September.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – IANS,