Men's Hockey World Cup 2018, Match 2: India vs South Africa, Live Score, Commentary & Updates

Thats it from us here - this is Subhashish - join us tomorrow when Argentina face Spain in a Pool A clash at 1700 IST - Good night

THE HIGH PRESS FROM THE INDIANS WAS EFFECTIVE, THE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE STRIKERS WAS ADMIRABLE ALTHOUGH THE PC ROUTINES COULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTED BETTER - ARE THE INDIANS READY FOR BELGIUM? DO NOT MISS THE BIGGIE ON DECEMBER 2

"THE ENERGY LEVELS WERE HIGH" SAYS MANPREET WHO THANKS THE ODISHA CROWD

SIMRANJEET SINGH GETS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD - ALTHOUGH MANDEEP AND AKASHDEEP HAVE BEEN JUST AS BRILLIANT

CHRIS CIRIELLO GETS THE INDIANS IN A HUDDLE - THE OPENING MATCH HAS BEEN DONE AND DUSTED IN STYLE - AND THE RED LIONS ARE UP NEXT!!

THE FIREWORKS GO OFF IN THE STANDS AS A HAZE OF SMOKE ENGULFS THE KALINGA STADIUM- THE INDIANS HAVE STARTED WITH A BANG

FULL TIME: INDIA 5 - SOUTH AFRICA 0

NO PC SAYS THE VIDEO UMPIRE

58' SA try one last press - as the clock runs down - SA earn a PC - the Indians want to review the decision

57' MANDEEP YET AGAIN - CUTS IN- HE HAS BEEN BRILLIANT TONIGHT - CANNOT ADVANCE INTO THE STRIKING CIRCLE

55' NILAKANTA ATTEMPTS TO WEAVE HIS WAY FORWARD DOWN THE FLANK - THE SA DEEP DEFENCE IS UP TO THE TASK

53' AMIT ROHIDAS LIMPS AWAY - THE INDIANS WILL HOPE ITS NOT TOO SERIOUS

51' HARMANPREET ADVANCES DOWN THE RIGHT - AFTER SOUTH AFRICA MANAGED TO TEST SREEJESH IN GOAL

49' MANDEEP CUTS IN WITH A BRILLIANT SOLO RUN - FAILS TO CONTROL THE BALL IN THE CIRCLE

NO DAMAGE DONE THOUGH AS THE FLICK IS WIDE!!!

48' INDIA EARN A PC

INDIA 5 - SOUTH AFRICA 0

SIMRANJEET SCORES HIS SECOND AS HE FIRES A DEFLECTION IN - INDIA GET THEIR FIFTH

46' INDIA EARN A PC THANKS TO LALIT

THE INDIANS APPEAR TO HAVE DONE ENOUGH TO PLAY SOUTH AFRICA OUT OF THE CONTEST - FANTASTIC WORK BY MANDEEP AND AKASHDEEP WHO HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING ALL EVENING - LALIT GETS HIS NAME ON THE SCORESHEET - THE CROWD REJOICE!!

INDIA 4 - SOUTH AFRICA 0

44' AKASHDEEP DELIVERS A SUPERB ASSIST TO LALIT - LALIT NEVER MISSES THOSE - INDIA SEAL THE DEAL

INDIA 3 - SOUTH AFRICA 0

43' MANDEEP DISPLAYS HIS EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS AS HE DARTS FORWARD AND SETS SIMRANJEET UP WHO FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET!!!

THE INDIANS JUST ABOUT MANAGE TO KEEP THE BALL OUT OF HARMS WAY

42' Simranjeet advances down the left showing off his 3D skills - one-handed - but SA earn a PC at the other end!!

40' Ciriello and Harendra look on - great chance for the South Africans to get back - they earn a long corner

38' The South Africans exerting lots of pressure on the Indian ball carriers who cannot find a way through

36' South Africa attempt a counter - the Indian strikers fall back quickly

35' The Indians attempt to build down the center past a crowded midfield - Harendra's boys unable to head forward

34' A scrappy game on as both sides attempt to find space in vain

MANPREET PUSHES - INDIA MAKE A MESS OF THE PC

33' SUMIT EARNS A PC FOR INDIA

31' The second-half action begins - Hardik gets in to the thick of things - unable to find the space to manuever

"WE NEED BETTER DECISION-MAKING IN THE CIRCLE" SAYS HARENDRA SINGH

THE CANADIANS MANAGED TO COME BACK IN THE SECOND HALF AS BELGIUM LET DOWN THEIR GUARD- WILL HARENDRA'S BOYS ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE TALLY???

EIGHTEEN CIRCLE PENETRATIONS AND EIGHT SHOTS ON GOAL FOR INDIA - SIX CIRCLE ENTRIES FOR THE AFRICAN SIDE WITH JUST ONE SHOT ON GOAL

MANDEEP SINGH'S EXCEPTIONAL POACHING SKILLS HELPED INDIA GET THE LEAD AFTER A RELENTLESS HIGH PRESS IN THE OPENING MINUTES - AKASHDEEP ADDED TO THE TALLY BUT THE SOUTH AFRICANS ARE HOLDING THE INDIANS BACK AFTER REGAINING THEIR COMPOSURE- HOW WILL THE SECOND HALF PLAY OUT??

HALF-TIME: INDIA 2 - SOUTH AFRICA 0

29' The Indians playing down the clock as half-time beckons

28' South Africa look more composed than before - the Indians unable to continue the high press

26' Sumit and Nilakanta try a quick one-two in the SA circle - fail to get a shot on goal though

25' Akashdeep has a chance to break forward - fails to latch on to the ball

24' Lalit scampers ahead on the right - Nilakanta unable to read Manpreet's pass in the striking circle

22' Harmanpreet advancing deep into South African territory - quick turnover - Sreejesh called into action as SA take a shot on goal

21' SA keep pressing down the left flank - the Indian midfield solid as ever denying them the space the need

20' Simranjeet finds space in the SA circle - India have a chance to take a shot on goal

INDIA TRY A CLEVER VARIATION - FAIL TO GET THE ROUTINE RIGHT

18' South Africa attempt to advance - Varun intercepts - India earn a PC at the other end

16' Sumit and Mandeep continue their rampaging runs - the South African defence holds firm