January 23, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 22, 1426

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KARACHI, Jan 22: Azhar Iqbal’s three-goal blitz helped Pakistan Army crush Pakistan Railways with a tennis score 6-2 in the All-Pakistan departmental hockey championship at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Sunday. Azhar, whose late equalizer enabled the soldiers to salvage a 3-3 draw with Pakistan Steel on Saturday, gave Army a confident start with two first half goals, starting with the opener in the 17th minute.

Azhar came into action again in the 21st minute before Mohammad Arshad made it 3-0 three minutes later. Railways reduced the margin with a Manzoorul Hassan strike two minutes before break. Mohammad Ramzan netted the fourth for Army on a penalty corner in the 35th minute.

Army maintained their supremacy into the second half and added two quick goals to complete the tally. Arshad grabbed his second in the 42nd minute, while seven minutes later Azhar slotted home his third.

Still trailing behind and looking for some more goals, Railways found the cage through Manzoor in the 52nd minute, but finally bowed down after huge defeat.

Habib Bank (HBL) got the better of Pakistan Navy 2-0.

Ehsanullah netted the opening goal in the 33rd minute, while Rizwan Khan banged home the second in the 68th minute.

PAF dished out a crushing 4-1 defeat to Customs.

The airmen grabbed the lead with a Saeed goal in the fourth minute and Imran had his name onto the scoresheet in the 13th minute.

Hapless Customs scored their consolation goal through Haroon in the 30th minute. Barkat netted the third for PAF in the 47th minute and Kashif Yaqoob completed the tally in the 62nd minute.

Mohammad Zubair, Mohammad Imran and Rafi struck twice in Pakistan Steel’s thumping 9-1 triumph over Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF).

Mohammad Imran’s opening goal in the second minute of the game was followed by a Mohammad Sarfaraz strike in the 12th minute. Rafi was on target in the 22nd minute, Mohammad Ishtiaq scored two minutes later while Rafi got his double in the 39th minute.

Continuing the punishment, Pakistan Steel added more to POF’s miseries with sixth goal through Zubair. Mohammad Imran sounded the backboards in the 51st minute, while Zubair got his second three minutes later.

Abrar got the consolation for POF in the 63rd minute before Mohammad Yasin completed the rout the next minute.

Monday’s fixtures: KESC v PTCL at 10.00am; Police v Navy at 12.00pm; SSGC v HEC at 2.00pm; Railways v POF at 4.00pm.