LAHORE, April 3: A rare triple hat trick by Hissam Ali Hyder, enabled BMA Capital Army to dethrone defending champions, Bank Alfalah 12-11 in sudden death, in the sixth chukker and clinch the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup National polo championship at the Lahore Garrison ground on Sunday. Hissam who led the winners with his brilliant play and superb horsemanship slammed in ten goals including the crucial equaliser in the fifth chukker taking the game into an extra 6th chukker sudden death, in which he converted a 60-yard penalty to seal victory for his team.
He proved a nightmare for the bankers who were dreaming of victory after finishing the fourth chukker with a 11-6 lead.
Apart from Hissam’s goal rampage, Haward Hipwood scored the remaining two goals for the winners.
Shah Shamyl Alam opened the bankers account in the opening chukker off a 30 yard-penalty before Hissam launched his goal spree, producing two goals, to make it 2-1.
In the second chukker, Shah Qublai Alam put bankers ahead with two goals as Hissam completed his first hat trick to make it 3-3.Ganzalo Pucchi made it 4-3 for bankers only to be equalised 4-4 by Hissam’s field goal.
The third chukker ended with bankers leading 9-4.
Hissam started the fourth chukker converting a 60-yard penalty as bankers hit back with two successive goals by Usman which helped them build 11-5 lead.
Hissam closed the fourth chukker with a field goal 11-6 and began the 5th chukker with a 60-yard penalty hit to claim his double hat trick.
Two goals by Haward and then two more by Hissam, levelled the score 11-11.
In the sixth chukker Hisam slammed in the match-winner to earn his triple hat trick and seal victory for his team.
Earlier in the subsidiary final Bahria Town beat Fauji Remounts 11-8.—APP
