March 2, 2002	Saturday	Zilhaj 17, 1422

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KUALA LUMPUR, March 1: Unbeaten Australia hit Cuba for a “six” Friday storming to the top of Pool B on day six of the 10th World Cup hockey and enhancing their chances of qualifying for the semifinals.

Playing in sleeveless shirts the Kookaburas were simply awesome in their 6-0 win against the tournament newcomers and enjoyed a two-goal cushion going for lemon-time. Four more goals added in the second half left the Cubans firmly entrenched at the bottom of Pool B without a point from four outings.

The first four of Australia’s goals were scored from short corners and it was Jamie Dwyer who set the ball rolling early in the game while the second followed on the 15th minute, a strike from the young Craig Victory.

Australia, the 1986 champions who earned seven penalty corners in the opening half, continued to press forward and forced two more in successive minutes in the second session, both resulting in goals. Victory put in one for his second goal of the match in the 39th and captain Paul Gaudoin converted the other for a 4-0 lead.

Michael McCann struck the fifth for the Australians and Matthew Smith finished off the Cubans with a goal just seconds from time.

Australians who play Japan Saturday should pick up more points but they havea tough game against Korea Monday and another match versus India Tuesday.

HAPLESS INDIANS

India, who had arrived in Kuala Lumpur, the scene of their only World Cup triumph in 1975 hoping to make an impression again, suffered their third defeat of the tournament, losing 2-3 to England.

England’s success, their third from four games, was achieved through a brace from the experienced Danny Hall who scored on both sides of half-time and a 53rd-minute goal from Tom Bertram.

After England, the 1986 runners-up, were put ahead by Hall off a 11th minute short corner, India with the exciting Dhanraj Pillay upfront made several attempts to equalise but were prevented from scoring by Simon Mason in goal.

Their best chance came with nearly 15 minutes gone when Baljit Sani missed from close range and then captain Baljit Singh Dhillon failed to connect a capital centre soon afterwards.

India however were rewarded 10 minutes after the breather when Dilip Tirkey converted a penalty corner much to the relief of the Indian bench management. But the joy was short-lived as England gained the advantage again, Hall scoring his second goal in field play.

England appeared to have sealed the match when Tom Bertram was on target from the fourth of the five short corners they earned. Having fallen 1-3 behind India pressed hard, forcing a short corner on the 56th minute that Dhillon slammed in. But another penalty corner about five minutes later that could have put India level, could not go in.

It was a sorry tale for the former champions here, who just could not regroup after drawing their opening game against Japan last Sunday. Defeats to Korea and Malaysia that followed dealt a cruel blow to their hopes.

SOUTH KOREA SURVIVE

South Korea scraped past a fighting Malaysia in the last match of the evening, winning 3-2.

Malaysia, buoyed by their stunning victory over India Wednesday, fought hard throughout the match and after going 0-2 down by the 21st minute, they narrowed the margin to 1-2. But the strong Koreans, showed champion pedigree and slammed in another one from a short corner before half time for a 3-1 lead.

The hosts pulled another goal back in the second half but some fine attempts goal they could not find the equalizer.

The Korean goals were scored by Keon-Wook Kang, Jung-Seon Lee before Malaysias Khaun Shanmuganathan struck from a penalty corner. Korea’s Woon-Kon Yeo made the score 3-1 while Khaun came in again to narrow the deficit from a 54th minute penalty corner.

FIRST WIN FOR JAPAN

Japan, playing on Pitch No 2, carved out their first victory beating Poland 2-1 to collect three points for a total of four.

Poland scored first through Artur Mikula in the 45th minute while Japan equalized from a penalty stroke taken by Naohiko Tobita on the 63rd. A last gasp effort by Keniichi Katayama saw Japan walk off as winners.

Australia 6 Cuba 0

Poland 1 Japan 2

England 3 India 2

Malaysia 2 South Korea 3