KARACHI, Sept 24: A superb Rehan Butt match-winner earned Pakistan a narrow 2-1 victory over a plucky India in the opening game of the eight-match home and away hockey series on Friday.

Pakistan's most potent weapon Sohail Abbas, just six goals short of creating a new world record of 268 goals, was on target once, but lightning dashes by the diminutive Indian goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza and the defenders prevented the drag-flicker from scoring further despite getting four chances in all.

While the triumph could be a source of happiness for a common hockey lover, it should serve as a wake-up call for coach Roelant Oltmans as his side had to fight hard against an Indian team having several rookies recently inducted into the senior side at Hockey Club of Pakistan.

The green shirts were shell-shocked when they fell behind after a penalty corner strike with the game barely three minutes old. It was Arjun Halappa who scored off a rebound from Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar to give his side the morale-boosting lead and the match an explosive start.

Sohail eased the pressure for the home team in the 18th minute when his trademark drag-flick sent the ball up into the roof of the net giving D'Souza and his colleagues no chance and sending the partisan crowd into raptures.

But that was the end for Sohail as the Indians contained the full-back with perfect dashes during three more short corners. D'Souza made a gallant dash to produce a brilliant save off the second penalty corner that put Sohail on hold in the 21st minute.

The Pakistanis, constantly rattling the Indian defence by making repeated incursions deep into the opposition's territory, heaved a sigh of relief as Tariq Aziz raced down the right before squaring an inch-perfect cross to see an anticipating Rehan score off D'Souza's stick in the 26th minute.

Energised after helping his team-mate score the second goal, Tariq tested D'Souza the next moment after being fed by Rehan only to be denied by the Indian custodian. D'Souza and the dashers once again were vigilant and agile as they foiled Sohail during the third penalty corner in the 28th minute before the goalie again kept the Pakistani at bay on the fourth attempt.

The Indians, who unexpectedly, did not utilise their youthful penalty corner strike Sandeep Singh in the first half, wasted an opportunity on a drill as Vivek Gupta failed to stop the ball three minutes before breather.

Pakistan missed a chance seconds before the halftime whistle but Kashif Jawwad's effort from point blank sailed over the bar after newcomer Adnan Zakir tricked his way past three defenders before releasing a perfect pass.

Perhaps Oltmans had sensed the danger posed by the Indians and gave Imran Warsi his international debut replacing Sohail after the lemons. The full back, though, did not get an opportunity to show his mettle as Pakistan could not force aany short corner.

Salman showed lots of promise by producing a fine save off a skipper Dilip Tirkey try on India's third penalty corner ten minutes into the second session. While the Pakistani defence faltered after a sudden Indian attack giving ample space and time to the rivals, the lanky Pakistani goalkeeper came rushing off his line to make yet another save from the top of the circle when Halappa threatened after being set up by Sandeep Michael in the 52nd minute.

Sandeep Michael tried through a reverse hit four minutes before the end, but his weak effort could not do the trick. India's German coach Gerhard Rach finally opted to field Sandeep Singh four minutes before the end in search of an elusive equaliser but the turbaned Sikh could not show his skills as India could not force any short corner in the dying moments of the game.

PAKISTAN: Salman Akbar, Sohail Abbas (vice-captain), Zeeshan Ashraf, Ghazanfar Ali, Adnan Maqsood, Dilawar Hussain, Rehan Butt, Mudassir Ali Khan, Kashif Jawwad, Waseem Ahmad (captain), Shabbir Hussain, Imran Warsi, Imran Khan, Asim Khan, Adnan Zakir, Shakeel Abbasi, Tariq Aziz, Akhtar Ali.