Dutch crush India 7-1 and Germany beat New Zealand 2-0

New Delhi: Germany had their work cut out to beat New Zealand 2-0 whereas Olympic and world champions Netherlands crushed India 7-1 on the second day of the women`s World Cup on Monday.

Maartje Paumen scored the second hat-trick of the tournament in Rosario as favourites Netherlands ran riot in the second half after Argentina`s Luciana Aymar had hit three in her team`s 5-2 win over South Africa in Pool B on Sunday. The Dutch quickly went ahead in their Pool A opener with Marilyn Agliotti`s volley but India hit back in the 24th minute through Rani Rampal. Parity was short-lived, though, as goals from Ellen Hoog and Kim Lammers gave Netherlands a 3-1 lead at halftime. In the second half, Paumen scored from two penalty corners either side of a penalty stroke and Lammers hit her second from the top of the circle. Germany took a quarter of an hour to break down New Zealand`s resistance with a fine goal by Celine Wilde who tipped the ball in off the right post from open play. Two minutes later Tina Bachmann increased the Germans` lead from a penalty corner but that was the only one out of eight they would go on to convert. New Zealand exerted increasing pressure during a scoreless second half in which Anita Punt came closest when her shot hit the post in the 52nd minute with no-one near enough to take the rebound.As time ran out New Zealand`s Gemma Flynn shot across the face of goal then had another effort saved by goalkeeper Kristina Reynolds. Twice champions Australia were playing Japan in the late match. Bureau Report