Dutch thrash Australia, Germany whip India

Maartje Paumen scored her second hat-trick of the women's hockey World Cup as favourites Netherlands beat Australia 4-1 in Pool A on Friday.

All three of Paumen's goals came from penalty corners as she took her tournament tally to seven and the Dutch their total to 18 in three matches.

Paumen scored early on and Nicole Arnold equalised in the 21st minute but Paumen put the Dutch ahead again on the stroke of halftime. She scored her third in the 40th minute and Minke Smeets rounded off the win.

The Dutch lead Pool A with a maximum nine points, the same number as Germany, who beat the tournament's whipping girls, India, 4-1. India have conceded 17 goals in their three matches.

India's 15-year-old wonder Rani Pampal, who has scored four of their five goals, hit a first half equaliser that had her team briefly on level terms but the Germans soon pulled away.

Japan and New Zealand were looking for their first points when they met in the last of a day of six matches after Thursday's play was rained out.

Hosts Argentina, the Champions Trophy winners who are favourites to meet the Dutch in the final, crushed Spain 4-0 in Pool B with two goals from Noel Barrionuevo.

Argentina also have nine points, two more than England in second place in the pool.

England had to fight back from a 14-second goal by Kim Jong-eun to draw 1-1 with South Korea, Helen Richardson equalising when she dribbled through the defence to tap in.

China recovered from two surprise defeats to beat South Africa 4-1 and maintain slim hopes of a semi-final berth.