Australia reaffirmed their status as tournament favourites with a second successive victory as they blew away the challenge of India. The Asian side looked set to put in a major challenge when Ritu Rani cancelled out Madonna Blyth’s second minute goal.

But when the hockeyroos rattled home a pair of goals in quick succession while India were reduced to ten players courtesy of Vandana Katariya, the game was up as the second half was a not overly effective exercise in damage limitation.

Casey Eastham’s sharp finish and a sweetly worked Jodie Schulz corner move had the Aussies flying at 3-1. And they duly ran riot in the second period as Claire Messent scored the first of five quick-fire efforts in the 51^st minute.

Blyth got her second close range corner goal while Georgia Nanscawen got a neat touch to Jade Close’s cross for 6-1. Emily Hurtz profited from a ricochet to simply volley home while Schulz picked out the top corner on the final whistle to complete the win against a dispirited India.