PERTH: India claimed an impressive 3-1 win to clinch an emphatic four-match field hockey series victory over top-ranked Australia in Perth late Sunday.

The loss was the third consecutive defeat inflicted by India on the World Cup champions to complete a morale-boosting series triumph ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy in India.

SARDAR Singh (L), captain of India’s hockey team, receives a presentation for his 200th international match from coach Terry Walsh.—AFP

The Indians fought back after losing the opening game 4-0 with 2-1, 1-0 and 3-1 victories to down the transitional Kookaburras.

India’s latest win was propelled by a double to Akashdeep Singh as captain Sardar Singh celebrated his 200th international match.

Australia’s newly-appointed head coach Graham Reid will now turn his focus to the Champions Trophy, to be held in Bhubaneswar, India, from December 6-14 with a squad to be announced this week.

“We have just played a team who have been together for three years, and our guys have only been together for five days,” Reid said.

“The idea behind this series was to give the guys some experience and exposure, and I think we have achieved that.”

Published in Dawn, November 11th , 2014