Hockey: Victory assured after draw

New Zealand are assured of victory in their five-test series with Malaysia following last night's 2-2 draw in the fourth test in Napier.

In earlier matches in the quick-fire internationals, the Black Sticks have won twice. The other two tests have been drawn. The fifth test is in Taupo tomorrow afternoon.

The draw - with all goals scored in the first half - in last night's match at the Kelt Capital Hockey Turf dashed Malaysian hopes of at least drawing the series.

The home side took the lead inside five minutes when Andy Hayward scored from one of the only two penalty corners they forced in the opening spell. The visitors clawed their way back midway through the first half when they equalised from the third of three penalty corners after Dean Couzins had brilliantly saved the second with a deft stick stop. Selvaraju Sandraski snatched that equalising goal in the 20th minute.

New Zealand lifted their game and captain Phil Burrows scored in the 30th minute with a well-executed reverse stick shot from mid-circle for 2-1. That lead was short-lived as the Malaysians responded three minutes later - again from a penalty corner - when Muhammad Amin Rahim found the back of the Black Sticks goal.

The second half failed to produce the same excitement but New Zealand had their chances denied by the Malaysian goalkeeper.