Izelle Lategan was South Africa’s golden girl as her brilliant third strike of the day assured her side a place in the fifth place play-off at the Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I, condemning India to the seventh place playoff. South Africa got off to a flying start with Lategan popping in her first in the fifth minute when she finished off a penalty corner move at the right post, guiding in Tarryn Bright’s sweep shot.

And the striker followed up a minute later when she got to the ball ahead of goalkeeper Savita. Her first touch nicked the ball clear and she had the simplest of touches to roll into the open goal. From there, India became more effective, effecting numerous turnovers and got their reward in the 23^rd minute, Ritu Rani scoring from the corner injector’s position.

While India held sway for most of the second period, an equaliser looked beyond them until Anupa Barla fired home a brilliant reverse-stick effort from the top right of the circle with three minutes to go, making it 2-2 and sending the game to extra-time. But just 81 seconds into golden goal, Nicolene Terblanche found a sweet long ball to Lategan and she did well to pull onto her reverse and rocket into the top corner.