IPOH, Malaysia: A dominant Australia notched up a thumping 4-0 victory over India in the summit showdown to win the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh on Saturday.
Thomas William Craig scored in 25th and 35th minutes and Matt Ghodes struck in 43rd and 57th minutes as the in-form Kookaburras won the tournament for a record ninth time.
Australia lifted the trophy without losing any match in the tournament.
For the reigning world champions and world number one, Craig opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he dribbled past a couple of Indian defenders and dragged goalkeeper Akash Chikte out before putting the ball into an empty net.
Craig doubled the lead when he lunged into a cross in the 35th minute for his fourth goal of the tournament.
Ghodes, playing his 150th match, joined the party when he scored his first goal through a volley. The second one came barely three minute before the final hooter, as the script refused to change with Australia continuing their denomination over seventh ranked India.
Heartbreak for Malaysia: Defending champions New Zealand came back from two goals down to beat Malaysia in penalty shootout and clinch third place.
Both teams were tied 3-3 at full time and the Black Sticks broke the Malaysian hearts with a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout.
Fitri Saari taking Malaysia’s final penalty could not get past the Kiwi keeper after New Zealand had converted their first five tries and Malaysia their four previous tries.
Malaysia started off brilliantly picking up two goals in the first quarter but gifted the tie to New Zealand as they gave their rivals too much space, especially in the final quarter.
A brilliant solo effort from Ramadan Rosli gave Malaysia the lead in the 7th minute. He made a darting run into the D, beating the Kiwi defenders with his excellent stick-work, before releasing a reverse stick hit that beat Devon Manchester at far post.
Four minutes later, it was another well worked out field goal from Malaysia, with Fitri Saari beating Devon from an acute angle.
The Black Sticks crept back into the game as Malaysia began to lose concentration and scored off their first attempt on target in the 27th minute.
A defensive error at the top D allowed Hayden Phillips through and the Kiwi blasted the ball high into the roof of the Malaysian goal. There was nothing Hafizuddin Othman could do.
In the 43rd minute, Kane Russell equalised for the Black Sticks with a powerful hit from top D in what was their first penalty corner of the game.
Within seconds, Malaysia, took the lead once again with another brilliant field goal. Shahril Saabah found the goal with his diving hit from close range after picking up a pass from Fitri Saari.
New Zealand came in waves in the final quarter and from the fourth penalty corner in the 59th minute Kane Russell gave the Kiwis the equaliser.
Malaysia conceded two late penalty corners, one with just a second on the clock but managed to survive for the shootout.