CWG' 18: SV Sunil shines as Indian men's hockey team beat Wales

Gold Coast [Australia], April 8 (ANI): SV Sunil put his experience to fore scoring the winner in the 59th minute to ensure India beat Wales 4-3 in a dramatic encounter at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on Sunday.

It was a must-win game for India, having drawn 1-1 to Pakistan and losing 0-3 to Malaysia in the previous two Pool B matches.

Dilpreet Singh (16), Mandeep Singh (28'), Harmanpreet Singh (57') were the other goal scorers for India.

For Wales, Gareth Furlong scored a hat-trick to snatch India's lead on three occasions (17', 45' and 58'), converting three out of the four penalty corners for Wales.

The second quarter saw experienced forward Sunil found a perfect deflection from Dilpreet Singh's stick to win India 1-0 lead in the 16th minute. However, the lead didn't last long enough as Wales converted a penalty corner in the 17th minute through Furlong.

India regained the lead in the 28th minute when Sunil earned his side third penalty corner of the match. Though Rupinder's dragflick was saved by the Welsh goalkeeper, Manpreet tried to deflect the rebound but it was finally Mandeep, who got the touch to put India ahead again by 2-1.

The following quarter saw Indian drag-flickers miss out opportunities of converting two PCs won in the 31st minute, however, Welsh did not make any such mistake when they won a PC in the 44th minute. It was Furlong again who found an equaliser.

With the scoreline even, the match went down to the wire with both teams vying for a winner in the final quarter. A PC earned in the 48th minute could not be converted by India's Rupinder while Akashdeep missed a deflection off Sunil's assist in the 51st minute.

After losing out on two back-to-back PCs in the 54th minute, Harmanpreet converted when India won another PC in the 56th minute fetching a much-needed 3-2 lead.

However, an infringement by an Indian defender in the 57th minute saw Wales being awarded a PC which was perfectly converted by Furlong.

A crucial video referral appealed by India was upheld by the umpire, awarding India a PC with less than two minutes for the final hooter. Sunil positioned himself to find the deflection on his second attempt to seal the match for India.

India will take on Malaysia in their next Pool B match. (ANI)