Pakistan go down fighting 2-3 to NZ

KARACHI: New Zealand beat Pakistan 3-2 in a nail-biting encounter at Wellington’s National Hockey Stadium in New Zealand on Friday.

The black sticks made the early inroads without looking dangerous. They had the first real chance of the evening in the 9th minute but failed to avail themselves of it. Irfan Jr’s individual burst earned Pakistan the first penalty corner, but it was wasted.

Tempo was faster in the second quarter. A fluent right side Pakistan move led to a good opportunity via a goal-line cut back but the striker, despite being in an ideal position, made a terrible attempt.

New Zealand went ahead with their first penalty corner in the 23rd minute. The goal was netted in by Sam Lane; Pakistani defence was baffled by a slight variation.

The lead was short lived, however. Within two minutes, the Green-shirts equalised. Ali Shan’s reverse cross from left couldn’t be trapped properly by the defender. Dilber showing fine opportunism, flicked the ball into the goal in the flash of an eye. It was all to play for in the second half. Pakistan began well. In the 37th minute, a combined raid yielded two back to back PCs. The high flick went out.

However, New Zealand again went ahead courtesy some sloppy work by the opponents back line. Stephen Jenness took his time to get in a position away from the defender in front before slamming the board with a flat tomahawk.

They extended the lead in the last minute of the third quarter. Off the second PC, Cory Bennett’s strong high flick went to the upper left corner of the net.

If New Zealand were a better side for most of the first 45 minutes, Pakistan held sway in the last 15 minutes. Ball remained mostly in the hosts’ half. The Green-shirts made it 2-3 off their third PC. Aleem Bilal’s well directed drag landed in the right side of the net. They continued to look for the equaliser but the New Zealand defence stood well.