India pull off a coup at Lahore

LAHORE, MARCH 5: When Samir Dad's searing hit crashed the advertisement board hung in the Pakistan goal, a hushed silence at the National Ho...

LAHORE, MARCH 5: When Samir Dad’s searing hit crashed the advertisement board hung in the Pakistan goal, a hushed silence at the National Hockey Stadium was broken by the umpire’s piercing whistle. A polite applause, and the spectators made a beeline for the nearest gate in resigned acceptance of India’s victory over the home side.

The goal, coming in the dying minutes of the third Test match of the eight-match hockey series, sealed India’s fighting 4-3 victory over the world champions.

The morale-boosting win over Pakistan, coming after long 12 years Indians last won 3-2 at Karachi would go a long way in restoring confidence in this young side, dejected after losing a close match at Rawalpindi a few days ago.

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India made a stunning start, going ahead in the first minute through a penalty-stroke. Outside-right Mukesh Kumar made a dazzling run down the right, got past two defenders and crossed. Rajesh Chauhan grabbed the the right position to make good use of the rebound off Ahmed Alam’s pads afterDilip Tirkey took India’s ninth penalty-corner hit.awarded a penalty and Harbhajan calmly beat goalkeeper Ahmed Alam.The early strike opened the floodgates and after a flurry of scoring, the scores stood 2-2 by the 12th minute.

Pakistan equalised through their penalty-corner specialist, the 19-year-old Suhail Abbas who beat goalkeeper AB Subbaiah with a powerful flick.India, positive in approach, attacked confidently. Before long, Dilip Tirkey struck with a neatly-hit penalty-corner.

But the old malady at converting penalty-corners reared up again and Pakistan punished India’s prodigality to equalise following a counter-attack. Irfan Mehmood made a sizzling run down the right and followed with a pass to an unmarked Kamran Ashraf whose accurate first-timer brought the crowd to their feet.

Pakistan surged ahead in the initial minutes of the second session. Suhail Abbas once again walked off the bench to confound the visitors with a punishing flick.

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With play deteriorating to a mid-field drab, theIndians equalised, taking advantage of a defensive error by Naveed Alam who failed to trap. Samir Dad pounced on the ball and relayed to Dhanraj Pillay. The Indian captain drew Danish Kaleem out, then the goalkeeper before slotting home.

Pakistan shuffled their players in the hope checking the rampaging Indians. With Tahir Zaman moving back as the centre-half, the visitors were not to be denied their due. Samir Dad was in the right position to make good use of the rebound off Ahmed Alam’s pads after Dilip Tirkey took India’s ninth penalty-corner hit.

India continued to spurn chances, thwarted on several occasions by goalkeeper Ahmed Alam.

Pakistan were undermined by a bottled-up Shahbaz and another inept performance by their mid-fielders. For the Indians, the most outstanding contribution on the day came from veteran Mukesh Kumar and full-back Dilip Tirkey, who dispossessed Shahbaz and Tahir with calm assurance.