Reigning world champions Australia continued their imperious form to secure a first place finish in Pool A after they thrashed India 6-2 in their last preliminary clash of the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in Antwerp.
Australian strikers exposed defensive frailties of the Sardar Singh-led team as they took an unassailable 4-0 lead in the 33rd minute. Chris Ciriello grabbed the limelight of the day for scoring a hat-trick of penalty corners.
Jamie Dwyer, Aran Zalewski and Kieran Govers were the other goal scorers for the Kookaburras to set up a quarter-final clash against the team that finishes fourth in Pool B.
Although Birendra Lakra and Ramandeep Singh pulled back two goals for India, the target was ultimately too distant for the ninth ranked team.
India finished second in their group and will next face the third placed team from Pool B in the quarter-finals.
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