MELBOURNE, March 19: Olympic champions Australia warned rivals at the Commonwealth Games hockey competition of their awesome form with a 5-1 rout of Canada on Sunday. Pakistan were, however, lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Group B when Imran Warsi drew level three minutes before the final whistle with a penalty corner.

Reece Basson gave South Africa the lead midway through the second half with one of the best goals of the tournament so far.

Basson, his back towards the goal, pounced on a pass inside the circle, turned around quickly and hit a hard shot past a stunned Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar.

The South African defence, led by goalkeeper Chris Hibbert, repeatedly warded off the Pakistani attack before Imran saved the day with his team’s seventh penalty corner.

The draw threw open the group with three teams — Malaysia, South Africa and Pakistan — level on four points each after two matches, followed by India on one point.

“We were lucky to get a point,” said a relieved Pakistan manager Saeed Khan. “We missed many chances but it has to be said South Africa played a very good game.

“Anything can happen now. We have to win our two remaining games against Malaysia and Trinidad.”

The Kookaburras, cheered from the stands by Prime Minister John Howard, led 3-0 at half-time against Canada and pumped in two more goals in the second half to record their second consecutive win in group A.

Skipper Bevan George and Michael McCann scored two goals apiece and Nathan Eglington one, while Paul Wettlaufer netted a consolation goal for Canada just before the final whistle.

The hosts had beaten Scotland by a similar 5-1 margin on Friday and now need one more win in their last two matches to ensure a semi-final place.

Australia’s next two games are against England and New Zealand, the two toughest opponents in the group.

Australia, the reigning world number one team, have not lost a match at the Commonwealth Games since field hockey was introduced as a medal sport in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

“To be honest, we have not been tested by some of the better teams yet,” said George. “It’s going to be a testing time in the next few matches.”

George said the team had talked of the best way to use crowd support to their advantage and handling the pressure which comes with being the favourites.

“People are going to want to knock us off from where we are now, so we just have to keep on improving.”—AFP

Standings

(played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Men

Group A

Australia 2 2 0 0 10 2 6

England 2 2 0 0 7 4 6

New Zealand 2 1 0 1 7 5 3

Canada 2 0 0 2 2 9 0

Scotland 2 0 0 2 2 8 0

Group B

Malaysia 2 1 1 0 9 1 4

South Africa 2 1 1 0 7 2 4

Pakistan 2 1 1 0 5 2 4

India 2 0 1 1 2 5 1

Trinidad 2 0 0 2 1 14 0