Australia women thrash Malaysia 4-0

The Australian women's hockey team began the defence of their 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medal with a 4-0 victory over Malaysia on Day 1 of the Games here Thursday.

Jodie Kenny's pin-point penalty corner drag flick into the top corner in the seventh minute gave the World Cup silver medallists the perfect start.

Kellie White doubled the advantage with a deft deflection midway through the half before Georgie Parker pulled off a textbook tomahawk to fire Australia 3-0 before the break.

World No.21 Malaysia weathered a series of five Australian penalty corners in the second half but could do little about Parker's reverse stick strike that flew into the roof of the net with just over 20 minutes to go.

It was a dominant Australian performance with Malaysian goalkeeper Farah Ayuni Yahya one of the stars as she pulled off a string of saves to deny Anna Flanagan, White and Parker in the second period.

"It is always a bit hard for us when we have to play against somebody not quite in our league but I thought they played pretty bravely and their defence was pretty good," said Australia captain Madonna Blyth, playing in her third Commonwealth Games.

The Australian team wore black armbands as a mark of respect for those who died in the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 last week.

Australia play Wales in their second match Friday.