India put on a clinical performance to beat Great Britain 6-4 in the 12th Sultan of Johor Cup at the Johor Hockey Stadium in Taman Daya on Sunday.

The Indians looked composed against the Britons in a match that fully tested the capability of both teams in every department. The Britons and Indians have won the SOJC three times since its inception in 2011.

Coached by PR Sreejesh, India tops the six-team pool with six points. The Great Briton went into the match riding on the back of a 3-2 victory over the Malaysians in Saturday’s opening match while India defeated Japan 4-2.

They face Malaysia’s Young Tigers in the third match on Tuesday (Oct 22) which is expected to draw a big number of home fans.

India’s manager Janadhana Chowdlu Babu, said: “We started slow once again and this gave Great Britain an advantage and they scored. The team is still in the process of settling down with several youngsters experiencing their second international match. But we are confident about the capability of this team and they showed it in the end by scoring six goals but conceding four.”

“The players have been told to stay focused and take control of the match. It was an entertaining match with fast counterattacks. I must say we took our chances well to win this match,” he said.

The Britons, however, had the upper hand today in the opening minutes and Rory Penrose opened the scoring for them by converting a penalty corner in the third minute.

But they soon lost some momentum within the next five minute that saw a fast reaction by the Indians equalizing in the seventh minute via Mohd Konain Dad’s penalty corner.

Penrose’s brace in the last few seconds of the first quarter from a second penalty corner goal saw Great Britain take a 2-1 lead once again. The Indians, known to rally back as quickly as they stumbled, equalized through Man of the Match award winner Dilraj Singh (17th), while Shardanand Tiwari (20th) and Manmeet Singh (26th) extended the lead to 4-2 at the end of the first half.

Michael Royden added GB’s third goal one minute into the third quarter but Sharda and Dilraj scored goals in the 50th minute to give India a 6-3 lead before Royden came back to knock his second and Great Britain’s fourth nearing the end of regulation time.

Man of the Match award winner Dilraj Singh from India

 India and Great Britain players in action in the SOJC on Sunday at the Johor Hockey Stadium. India won 6-4.