New Zealand to meet Netherlands in field hockey World League final

New Delhi (AFP) - New Zealand upset favourites England in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in New Delhi on Friday to set up a title clash against the Netherlands in the inaugural Hockey World League.

Phil Burrows beat English goalkeeper George Pinner to give the Black Sticks a 7-6 win in the shoot-out after Ashley Jackson missed the mark with the previous strike.

The teams were deadlocked at 3-3 in regulation time, with Jackson converting a score-levelling penalty stroke in the 64th minute soon after New Zealand had scored twice in as many minutes to grab a 3-2 lead.

New Zealand ended England's four-match winning streak and avenged a 5-1 loss to the same opponents in the league phase earlier in the week.

"We knew we were not as bad as that 5-1 scoreline suggested and proved that today," said New Zealand striker Simon Child, who scored twice in the shoot-out.

"We are improving with every match and look forward to the final."

The Netherlands beat reigning World Cup champions Australia 4-3 in another thrilling semi-final, with Mink van der Weerden scoring the winner with his second penalty corner goal four minutes from the end.

The Dutch, hosts of this year's World Cup, grabbed a 2-0 lead by half-time before Australia scored three goals after the resumption to swing the match their way.

Jeroen Hertzberger equalised for the Netherlands in the 62nd minute, before van der Weerden carried his team into Saturday's final.

The International Hockey Federation's newest competition opened with 54 teams in August 2012, and, after three rounds played around the world, the top seven joined hosts India for the title round in New Delhi.

India will play Belgium in the play-off for the fifth place on Saturday after shrugging off a 1-3 deficit at half-time to stun Olympic champions Germany 5-4.

Belgium ousted Argentina 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after both teams were locked at 1-1 in regulation time.