The Dutch team hit seven for the second game in a row as they thrashed China 7-1 in the Pool A encounter at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Italy, the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, edged South Korea 1-0 in the same group to ensure they maintained their hopes of clinching a surprise place in the quarter-finals.

The Dutch and Chinese players were forced to come off the pitch early on owing to thunderstorms but the reigning champions were nonplussed and made a fast start.

Caia van Maasakker broke the deadlock from a penalty corner before Kelly Jonker's superb solo effort gave the Dutch a 2-0 lead.

Laurien Leurink then added a third and that was how it stayed at half-time.

Lidewij Welten put the result of the match beyond any doubt as she scored two after the restart to make it 5-0.

Yong Jing restored some Chinese pride by scoring her team's first of the tournament shortly after, but it mattered little as the Dutch continued to dominate.

Kitty van Male added a sixth before Xan de Waard scored a seventh to complete another rout for the Dutch team.

"There are still things we can improve upon," said Eva de Goede. 

"Our strength as a squad is that we trust ourselves and play the way we want to play. 

"We scored a lot of team goals and that was very good."

In the other match held today, Valentina Broconi scored the only goal as Italy claimed a famous win against South Korea.

The result means Italy will finish in one of the two play-off spots in the group and will have the opportunity to qualify for the last eight.