By TERRY MADDAFORD
A late winner from hometown favourite Phil Burrows snatched a 2-1 win for New Zealand over India in the men's international at Wellington last night.
With a win and a draw in the opening matches, the 16th-ranked New Zealanders wrapped up the four-test series over their seventh-ranked opponents.
The final test is in Auckland tomorrow.
From the outset, it was a match played at a furious pace despite the chilly conditions but in front of an enthusiastic crowd of around 3000.
The Indians were quick to turn defence into attack, often using right back Dilip Tirkey as the pivot in switching their point of attack.
In right wing Gagan Ajith Singh, the visitors had a player of real pace and skill. He had the three best chances of the first 35-minute spell - thwarted on each occasion by good saves from keeper Michael Bevin.
He also did well in keeping out the second of the three first-half penalty corners forced by the Indians.
The visitors were forced to play one short for 10 minutes when M. K. Prakash was sent to the sin bin after he charged into the back of New Zealand captain Simon Towns.
New Zealand's best chance from those early raids came in the 17th minute but Bevan Hari's reverse stick attempt was kept out by goalkeeper Jude Menezes.
A tactical halftime change by coach Kevin Towns was rewarded seven minutes after the break when Darren Smith surprised everyone with a well-struck first-time shot from the edge of the circle.
Three minutes later New Zealand won their only penalty corner of the match and Umesh Parag was close with his reverse stick attempt.
The Indians scored in the 52nd minute from a penalty corner with a superb drag flick from 203-test veteran Baljit Singh Dhillon.
At 1-1 with 18 minutes to play, New Zealand went in search of the winner.
They survived a minor scuffle involving several players in front of their own goal before Burrows swooped to score after Hari's initial 63rd-minute shot was blocked by Menezes' pads.
"We absorbed a lot of pressure but came through well," coach Towns said. "We now want to carry it on in Auckland."
New Zealand 2 (Darren Smith, Phil Burrows) India 1 (Baljit Singh Dhillon). Halftime: 0-0.
