In the final match of the series, England came back from behind to beat India 3-2 in a tense match at the University of Birmingham this morning (Sunday).
In a reversal of fortunes from Wednesday, India took a 1-0 lead with a converted penalty stroke after three minutes from captain Vikram Pillay after a foul following a penalty corner.
England looked shaky in defence. Two minutes after India's opening goal Nick Brothers was called into action when he smothered a shot from Dhananjay Mahadik who had broken free.
After fourteen minutes England were awarded their first penalty corner but the shot from Matt Daly was saved easily. But on eighteen minutes the Indians drove down the left and with some silky passing put the ball into the circle where Sunil SV was on hand to put the ball into the net and give India a 2-0 lead.
England then started to press forward much more strongly and were awarded a number of penalty corners, duly saved by goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza. Finally Ashley Jackson fired in a fierce drag shot to beat the keeper and put England back in the game (Pictured). 2-1 at half time.
England came out fighting in the second half, much stronger in defence and putting pressure on the Indian defenders 'Harry' Jawanda narrowly failed to connect with a cross from the right which would have equalised. A large contingent of Indian supporters got behind their side as they pushed forward to try and take the game away from England. However, after they had a goal disallowed from Mahadik, England pushed forward again and after a series of attempts by the forwards it was finally Ashley Jackson who scored again from the penalty corner to make it 2-2 with twenty minutes remaining.
The best goal was saved until the last when Richard Alexander received the ball from Rob Moore. Alexander's cross from the right was deflected in by Iain Mackay to make it 3-2. India pressed forward and were awarded a penalty corner in the dying minute, but the defence stood firm and gave them the series.
England squad against India: Nick Brothers (Reading), Jonty Clarke (Reading), Matt Daly (Surbiton), Adam Dixon (Beeston), Ashley Jackson (HGC), Glenn Kirkham (East Grinstead), Iain Mackay (Reading), Richard Mantell (Reading), Rob Moore (Surbiton), Richard Smith (Loughborough Students), Ali Wilson (Beeston), Richard Alexander (Surbiton), Dan Fox (Hampstead and Westminster), Harry Jawanda (Cannock), Martin Jones (Beeston), James Tindall (Surbiton).
