CANBERRA, April 17: India came back from 2-4 down in the second half to beat South Africa 6-4 in the mens Four-Nations Challenge field hockey tournament on Saturday and enter the final against Australia.

India started well with Gagan Ajit Singh and Arjun Halappa taking two goals in the 15 minutes.

But South Africa came back with three goals in 10 minutes to lead 3-2.

One was a signature Greg Nicol goal, driven high into the net from the top of the circle.

Ian Symons then converted South Africas second penalty corner with a powerful drive from the battery at the top of the circle, and Denzil Dolley crashed one in from the right after Symons found him with a pass deep into the circle from the left.

Nicol scored his second goal seven minutes into the second half, a powerful volley into the middle of the net from a cross from the right.

India regrouped and scored four unanswered goals, including field goals to Prabhjot Singh, Deepak Thakur and Gagan.

Indias coach Rajinder Singh acknowledged the quality of South Africas performance.

"We had pressure on us at 2-4 but in the second half we settled down to play better. We are focussed on settling down the team rather than on results," he said.

South Africas coach Paul Revington was disappointed that India's three field goals had been relatively soft.

"Those three goals came from our defenders missing the ball and allowing India free shots in the circle," Revington said.

India suffered injuries to defender Kanwalpreet Singh and striker Prabhjot Singh, giving Harpal Singh a long period on the pitch in defence where he presented a sound performance.

Jatinder Pal Singh had been named for his first match of the tournament to try his luck as the designated drag-flicker at penalty corners in place of Len Aiyappa, but was not given any pitch time.

Bharat Kumar received his first start in goal for India but was replaced by the more experienced Devesh Chauhan for the second half.

Results:

South Africa 4 (Nicol 22, 42, Symons 26, Dolley 27), India 6 (Gagan 10, 65, Halappa 17, Prabhjot 46, Thakur 50, 57)

Australia 9 (Brooks 20, 40, M. Boyce 33, 53, Eglington 38, Elder 56, 63, McCann 65, 66), Malaysia 0.-AFP