Malaysia’s senior women’s hockey team drew 2-2 against Wales in the first of three test matches at the National Hockey Centre in Cardiff on Wednesday.
The first quarter proved to be an entertaining affair with both teams evenly matched.
The Malaysian Tigress, who are on a six-match series tour of Wales since July 28, took the lead in the eighth minute courtesy of forward Zati Alyani Muhammad Zubir’s penalty corner conversion.
Siti Nur Atika Shaikh Maznan extended the lead to 2-0 in the 15th minute from a penalty corner also.
The Welsh, ranked 25th in the FIH World Rankings, were not to be left behind against the 23rd-ranked Malaysians. Freya Diamond scored in the 19th minute from a penalty corner conversion to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Three minutes later, Lily Roberts punctuated the Malaysians’ hopes of registering their first win in the series, by scoring the equaliser via a field goal.
National women’s team head coach Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim, said: “It was an exciting game. We started well by taking a 2-0 lead but Wales put up relentless pressure on us and drew level. The second half was equally contested.”
“For Zati Alyani, Thibatharshini (James), Irma Arief, Siti Nur Atika and goalkeeper Fitrinur Amiera it was their first experience playing in an FIH international test match. I am satisfied with their performance on this tour and we need to improve in the remaining two matches,” he added
The Tigress will play the second test match on Aug 9 and wind up their tour with the third and last test match on Aug 10.
In earlier matches, the Malaysians got off to their journey in Cardiff with a 2-2 draw in the first friendly match, and then suffered consecutive 1-2 defeats in the second and third matches.
