KARACHI, June 8: Belgium carved out a 3-2 victory in the first Test against Pakistan at the Dragon Hockey Club in Antwerp, Belgium, on Saturday.

According to information received here on Sunday, the match locked at 1-1 at the breather.

Pakistan forged ahead in the 20th minute when an exquisite move between Rehan Butt and Waqas Akbar earned a penalty-stroke which centre-half Mohammad Saqlain converted with aplomb.

The Belgians retaliated and five minutes later Jerome Dekeyser converted a penalty-stroke.

In the second half, Pakistan earned their lone penalty-corner (45th minute) and as Mohammad Ateeq’s drag-flick rebounded, striker Shakeel Abbasi pounced on the opportunity to put his side ahead.

The Belgians then earned three penalty-corners in a row and succeeded in neutralising on the third in the 53rd minute with Dekeyser’s low push on the right side.

A minute before the final hooter, Belgium finally succeeded with a match-winning goal from Dekeyser who completed his hat-trick with a fine deflection.

Belgium earned seven penalty-corners and a penalty-stroke while Pakistan got one penalty-corner and one penalty-stroke.—APP