Favorites Australia thrashed South Africa 12-0 on Thursday to record the biggest win in World Cup history as former field hockey giants India and Pakistan took a tumble.
Australia’s penalty corner ace Luke Doerner slammed four goals, Jamie Dwyer three and Glenn Turner two as the Kookaburras surpassed Pakistan’s 12-3 romp over New Zealand in the 1982 edition in Mumbai.
European champions England continued their unbeaten run with a 5-2 demolition of Pakistan, with Jonty Clarke and captain Barry Middleton scoring two goals apiece.
PHOTO: EPA
England, who top group B with nine full points from three matches, need to win one of their two remaining games against India and Spain to qualify for their first World Cup semi-final since 1986.
Beijing Olympic silver-medalists Spain made light of the absence of injured strikers Santi Freixa and Eduard Tubau to silence a boisterous crowd of 19,000 with a 5-2 win over hosts India.
Pau Quemada converted two penalty corners, while Albert Sala, captain Pol Amat and David Alegre chipped in with goals in the key match.
India, who trailed 2-0 at half-time, earned consolation goals from Sandeep Singh and Gurwinder Chandi.
With two rounds of league matches still to be played, Australia and Spain were lying second in the group behind England with six points each.
India and Pakistan trail with three points apiece and need big wins in the remaining games to stay in contention for a place in the semi-finals.
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