LAHORE: A hat-trick by Sufi M. Amir enabled Master Paints (Blacks) defeat Dollar East/Newage 7-5½ in the Bank of Punjab Polo Cup here on Friday.

Sufi Haris and Ahmed Ali Tiwana sla­m­med in two goals each for winners.

From the losing side, Hissam Ali Hyder played outstanding game with a contribution of three goals.

Alman Jalil Azam hit one goal while one and half goal was their handicap.

Amir gave a good start to the winners, pumping in back-to-back goals.

His brother Haris contributed one goal to strengthen the lead (3-1½).

The losing side bounced back when Hissam added two goals to the handicap while Alman added one to earn 4½-3 lead in the second chukker.

Hissam’s third goal put the losing side in commanding position (5½-3), before the winners staged a brilliant comeback in the fourth chukker.

Ahmed Tiwana contributed two goals and Amir and Haris one goal each to notch up the victory from the defeat, which was looking certain when the final chukker was started.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2017