FIH Hockey Pro League: Hosts Great Britain Defeat India 4-2, Climb To Top

Hosts Great Britain replaced India on the top of the pool table with a fine 4-2 victory in the FIH Hockey Pro League encounter at the Lee Valley Hockey Stadium in London on Saturday. It was goals by Timothy Nurse (7'), Thomas Sorsby (32), Lee Morton (34') and Nicholas Bandurak (54') that saw the home team through while India Captain Harmanpreet Singh (14', 43') scored a double to become the all-time best goal scorer in the FIH Pro League with 35 goals. Backed by a boisterous home crowd, Great Britain got off to a roaring start with a lethal attack trying to push India on the backfoot right from the word go. Though India warded off an early shot on goal, a lapse in defence allowed newcomer Timothy Nurse to score a fine goal. Nurse did well to pick up a good assist and score his first international goal, driving into the left flank and putting the ball past India's Krishan Pathak.

Though Great Britain's 7th-minute goal put India under the pump, the visitors made an aggressive comeback when Mandeep Singh earned a penalty corner. In good nick, with 11 goals so far in the League, Harmanpreet used a powerful drag-flick to find the corner of the post beating GB's goalie James Mazarelo with ease. The 14th-minute goal put India in good stead for the next quarter as they tested the hosts' defence, finding ways to create PCs. Though they created three good PC opportunities, they could not convert the chances.

Adding to the team's woes, a good referral by GB in the 28th minute denied India a lead as it was ruled that the goal came off the back stick.

With seconds left for half-time, India conceded a penalty stroke while attempting to tackle the GB attacker in the top of the D from taking a shot on goal. Guarding India's post,