Pak go on rampage to clinch series

Even his much vaunted penalty corner flicks were wide off the mark. Bashir was rightly declared the Pepsi Man of the Match.

India8217;s two goals came from Baljit Singh Dhillon 19th and 59th minutes, the second one off a penalty stroke in the dying minutes of the game.

Both goalkeepers BC Poonacha and Jagdish Ponappa, playing in each half, were slow and inadequate. As a result, thereliable Dilip Tirkey had to carry an extra burden. Slow moving skipper Anil Aldrin was given a harrowing time by Bashir, Irfan and Muhammed Sarvar. In fact, his loose clearance in the fourth minute dopened the flood gates for Pakistan. He was rightly replaced by Lazarus Barla after the breather.

The mid-field, save for live-wire Baljit Singh Saini, and to some extent Mohammed Riaz, could not raise the level of their game. Upfront, Dhillon, who joined the team for this match, looked dangerous but was tightly marked by the solid Pakistan defence, led by Danish Kaleem. The promising Gagan Ajit made a mess of two easy chances in the first half.

On the contrary, Pakistan were fast and played a tactically superior game. The tall centre-half Muhammed Saqlain fed the forwards constantly. Sarwar was nippy. So was Bashir.

Goalkeeper Ahmed Alam was sure and alert. He saved a sure shot from Dhillon8217;s penalty corner flick drive in the first half.

India began in right earnest earning two penalty corners in thefirst two minutes. But once Aldrin8217;s loose clearance saw Bashir snatch the ball to feed Sarwar, whose cross was met nicely by Irfan to shoot through Poonacha8217;s legs, Pakistan announced their intentions. Moving in tandem, Pakistan were all over the Indian citadel and by the ninth minute, they earned a penalty corner. The specialist Abbas8217; first one was not successful. But the second, a powerful flick-drive went past Poonacha.

India swung into action thanks to the some sense of urgency on the part of Riaz and Saini, particularly the latter whose defence-splitting passes had the Pakistan defence running for cover. The uninterrupted raids did result in a goal. Tirkey8217;s long pass was nicely picked up by Dhillon who shot home off keeper Alam8217;s pads.

India could have equalised but Gagan Ajit and Gursewak Singh, in tandem, messed up in front a open goal when a right wing cross from SS Gill beat the entire Pakistan defence. Gagan Ajit was again the culprit, missing a good opportunity off a through pass fromDhillon.

But Pakistan rallied splendidly thereafter. Saqlain8217;s long ball found Irfan near the Indian goalmouth. The unmarked striker completed the job from a close range to make it 3-1.

Coach V Baskaran shuffled the Indian forward line but to no avail as Pakistan relentlessly attacked and went 4-1 up with Bashir banging home after Rajesh Chauhan failed to clear off a penalty corner. India were lucky to not to concede another goal when a penalty stroke was awarded with Gill stick-checking Naved. But Abbas shot wide.

There were sporadic raids by the Indians but they lost Sameer Dad who was injured and was carried off the field. Pakistan completed the rout with Bashir slotting home off a right wing move. There was some consolation for the Indians when they were awarded a penalty stroke in the 59th minute.Ajit8217;s attempt saw the ball hit Kaleem8217;s legs and Dhillon was on target.