LONDON: Pakistan beat England 3-2 in the second hockey test of the three-match series in the West Midlands town of Cannock on Thursday.

The hosts came close to levelling the match in an inspired second half performance, but Pakistan held off the challenge to emerge victorious.

Pakistan, preparing for World Cup qualification after a string of recent mediocre performances, shot into the lead early in the 13th minute through Muhammad Waqas goal.

It was a feisty first half that saw temporary suspensions for Glenn Kirkham and Saijad Anwar. Pakistan went into the interval with a two-goal advantage following strikes from Muhammad Waqas and Muhammed Imran who scored in the 22nd minute.

Abdul Haseem Khan added a third in the second half before James Tindall and Matt Daly struck within four minutes of each other to reduce the margin as Pakistan held on to the lead.

England had an early opportunity with a fourth minute penalty corner but Ashley Jackson was denied by a fine diving save from goalkeeper Salman Akbar.

Pakistan opened the account 11 minutes later with a goal which caught the English defenders snoozing. The ball came across the face of goal and the England defender tried to get a stick to it, but Waqas was waiting to tap the ball in.

England’s second penalty corner of the match saw Daly’s shot directed over the bar by Akbar’s stick. Pakistan’s lead was increased to two in the 22nd minute when Imran drag-flicked the ball out of James Fair’s reach from a penalty corner.

Akbar again proved to be the thorn in England’s side when he saved Ashley Jackson’s 25th minute penalty corner with a low save to his right.

Another penalty corner from England ricocheted off the bar with Matt Daly’s follow up being forced out of danger by Akbar.

Despite England’s pressure, the touring side consolidated the lead further with the third goal.

Abbas Haider drove in to the circle to force Fair off his line and once the keeper had committed, the Pakistani player slipped the ball to the right to his colleague Haseem Khan who smashed the ball into an open goal.

However, England had reduced the deficit back to two a minute later when an impressive display from Glenn Kirkham saw Jones get a touch on the ball for Tindall to complete the move.

In the 59th minute, Jones weaved through a number of players in the circle and won a penalty corner which was duly converted by Daly with a fierce shot.

Pakistan had won the first game 2-1 on June 30. —APP