India held by South Africa, loss for Eng, Pak

New Delhi, Mar 8 : India were held 3-3 by South Africa in their last match while Australia emerged group champions in Pool B with a 2-1 win over Pakistan in the Hockey World Cup here Monday.

Australia moved into the semis and are followed by Euro champions England, who also booked a semi-final berth, despite going down 0-2 to Olympic silver medallists Spain at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

In the last match of the day, Lloyd Norris-Jones put South Africa ahead, before the Indians struck through Sarvanjit Singh and Diwakar Ram to put the hosts 2-1 at the half time.

South Africa came back in the game with strikes from Justin Reid-Ross and Austin Smith through penalty corners and went 3-2 up. Shivendra Singh scored the equaliser in the dying moments to draw the match.

For Australia, Desmond Abbot struck twice while Sohail Abbas converted a penalty corner for Pakistan, who led 1-0 at the half time.

Earlier in the day, England paid the price of taking things lightly as Spain took the lead after Pau Quemada converted a penalty corner in the 35th minute and Eduard Tubau doubled the lead in the 64th.

For Spain it was their fifth win against England in seven World Cup matches. Their last defeat came in a qualification match in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur

Spain, who are now out of the semi-final race, were on the attacking mode right from the start and their defence stood rock solid with goalkeeper Ferncisco Cortes putting up some excellent saves.