India fought hard before slumping to its second defeat of the European tour, losing 2-4 to The Netherlands at The Hague.

The Netherlands started the game on an attacking mode on Thursday, as Mirco Pruyser successfully sliced in a goal in the ninth minute of the game.

Indians were in for a rude shock as Glenn Schuurman and Tristan Algera pumped in two more goals in the 15th and the 28th minutes respectively.

The Indians, however, fought back in the second half and pulled a goal back through SK Uthappa (37th minute) before captain Sardar Singh (40th) registered his name in the scoresheet after a long time to bring life back into the match. But the Dutchmen made life difficult for India in the 60th minute when Billy Baker slammed home to make the scoreline 4-2 in their favour.

India will play their fifth and the last build up game of the tour against The Netherlands on Saturday.

India eves win

India women continued their impressive show and defeated Ireland 2-1 in a keenly-contested second hockey Test to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Dublin.

India had earlier defeated Ireland 3-1 in the first Test of the tour, orgainsed as part of the team’s preparation for the FIH Champions Challenge 1 beginning April 27 in Glasgow, Scotland.

In the second Test on Thursday, the Indian eves opened the account in the 18th minute when Soundarya Yendala converted a penalty corner. India doubled the lead two minutes later through Sunita’s (20th) field goal. But Ireland pulled one back just at the stroke of half time through Nicola Evans’ field effort.