Australia's hockey players rush to their goalkeeper Aleisha Power after the shoot out victory over India ©Getty Images

Australia beat India in a shoot out to set up a grandstand finale against rivals England in the Birmingham 2022 women’s hockey competition on Sunday (August 7).

The shoot out had begun in dramatic fashion when Australia's Rosie Malone had her first attempt blocked by India’s keeper Kevita.

Then officials ruled that the shot should be re-taken after the clock misfired.

"I thanked the universe and I just said to myself, if I get a second chance at this I am not missing this," Malone said.

"I knew all of India would hate me if I put it in, but I was trying to think about my team and that final."

Rosie Malone scores at the second time of asking in the shoot out for Australia ©Getty Images
Rosie Malone scores at the second time of asking in the shoot out for Australia ©Getty Images

Australia’s keeper Aleisha Power kept India’s shooters at bay, as Kaitlin Nobbs and Amy Lawton also converted to assure a victory by 3-0 in the shoot out.

In regulation play, Australia led with a close range finish from Rebecca Greiner after 10 minutes, her first goal of the tournament.

India did not equalise until 11 minutes from the end, and again it was a close range finish from Vandana Katariya.

India weathered intense pressure from the Australians in the last few minutes before the heartbreak came in the shoot out.

Earlier, England were roared on by a capacity crowd in the other semi-final against Gold Coast 2018 gold medallists New Zealand.

The match had finished 0-0 in regulation play.

They had applied intense pressure in the final quarter of the match but were unable to force their way past Tarryn Davey in the New Zealand goal.

When the match went into the shoot out, both Davey and England keeper Maddie Hinch saved the first two attempts on goal.

Hannah Martin shows her delight after scoring the decisive goal in the shootout ©Getty Images
Hannah Martin shows her delight after scoring the decisive goal in the shootout ©Getty Images

Izzy Petter broke the deadlock in the third round to give England the lead.

Hinch saved yet again from Olivia Shannon.

England’s leading scorer Hannah Martin then scored the goal which sent the home supporters delirious with delight.

"They were great, it was like having an extra player out there," Martin said.

The finals of the women’s competition will take place at 3pm local time on Sunday (August 7), as part of what Birmingham 2022 organisers have described as "Super Sunday."

It will be preceded by the bronze medal match between New Zealand and India and also the classification playoff for fifth and sixth between Canada and Scotland.