The game got off to a thrilling start at the capacity-filled Hohhot Sports Centre with China PR keeper Liu Danping making two brilliant saves to deny Jessica Au and Marianna Tabain, while Yu Ting’s shot was kept out by Australian custodian Sarah Easthope’s sprawling save.

It was end to end action with Liu keeping her side in the game after repelling Amy Barker’s stinging shot from distance in the fourth minute before saving Trudy Camilleri’s shot off a counter-attack.

Although China PR looked more dangerous going forward, they were faced by an imposing Easthope, who used her physique well to deny Zhan Huimin with Liu later stepping in with a lunging tackle to block Meaghan Mcelligott.

China PR came close to breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute after Cao Jiayi surged through the centre with only Easthope to beat but the Tongji University student drilled her effort wide.

The goal finally arrived for the hosts in the 14th minute, Zhan striking from close range after Easthope deflected Cao’s initial attempt.

China PR doubled their lead with less than a minute left of the first half after Su Jiahong’s shot struck Marianna Tabain before sailing past Easthope and into the back of the net.

The intensity picked up in the second half as Australia, having survived Zou Yinglan’s effort from distance which struck the bar, forced Liu to produce a string of saves to deny Gisella Pipino, Claudia Fruscalzo and Meaghan Mcelligott.

Australia’s persistence was rewarded in the 25th minute after Daisy Arrowsmith squared the ball for Alexia Karrys-Stahl to slam home from just inside the arc.

China PR, however, capitalised on Australia’s lapse in concentration which saw Zhan threading a pass an unmarked Zou, who rifled home a powerful long range effort in the 37th minute to seal the three points.