CHENNAI, FEB 10: The wheels of fortune turned around. A brave Indian team made it happen with a 3-0 drubbing of Pakistan for a face-saving victory in the fourth and final Test of the home leg, in the Pepsi Friendship hockey series, at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Wednesday.The teams now move to Pakistan for the second leg of five Tests with the neighbours leading the series 3-1.After the Asian Games gold, the Indian team was torn apart by the jettisoning of the five stalwarts. They lost the first three Tests and the omens looked bleak before India took to the field here on Wednesday.The victory was built on a tactical move which paid rich dividends. Skipper Anil Aldrin truly blossomed in his role as he shadowed dangerman Muhammad Sarawar and bottled him. It effectively blocked the options of centre-half Mohammed Saqlain and Pakistan lost the rhythm with their attacks nipped in the bud. Then, Baljit Singh Dhillon flourished, showing the full range of his skills as he repeatedly took out anuneasy Pakistani defence.India shot into lead in the third minute as the sizeable crowd erupted with a roar. Sukhvinder Singh Gill received a ball on the right flank following a hit-in and darted down before sending a defence-splitting square pass. An unmarked Rajesh Chouhan trapped and with only goalkeeper to beat, scooped into the net (1-0).India were rewarded with a penalty corner in the 18th minute. Mohammed Riaz took the push and SS Gill set it up perfectly for Dhillon. But Dhillon, instead of effecting his dreaded flick, gave a short pass to Saini, who returned it in a flash. With the defence wrong-footed, Dhillon sent in a sizzling drag-flick to the net (2-0).Immediately, India survived a counter-attack when Riaz, running back, cleared in a jiffy with Atif Bashir about to strike. But the Pakistani attacks were far and few in between as India called the shots. Later, Gagan Ajit fumbled with a long ball from Chouhan as India crossed over with a 2-0 lead.The third goal in the 53rd minute,however, sealed the issue. Gill initiated the raid on the right flank and put Baljit Dhillon in possession. Dhillon dodged defender Sohail Abbas and swiftly changed the flank to find an unmarked Chouhan on top of the circle. Chouhan wasted no time and his stinging shot deflected off the goalkeeper's pads and entered the goal.Later, defending a penalty corner, Indian custodian Jagdish Ponnappa, anticipated well and blocked a Sohail Abbas flick. Pakistan muffed both the penalty corners it earned late in the second-half.Local lad Riaz was adjudged Man of the Match. The Indian team leaves for Pakistan on February 15. Lahore will host the fifth and ninth Tests on February 16 and 24. The sixth Test is in Karachi on February 18, the seventh in Peshawar on February 20 and the eighth in Rawalpindi on February 24.The Indian team for the second-leg will be announced in Delhi on Thursday.
