LAHORE, March 10: Imran Warsi struck twice in Pakistan’s 4-1 win over South Africa to finish the league stage unbeaten in the four-nation junior hockey tournament at the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

In another match of the day, India edged past Japan 2-1 to earn second place in the league, South Africa came settled at third, while Japan finished at bottom.

Pakistan will play Japan in the semifinal while India will meet South Africa in the second on Saturday. Friday will be rest day.

Pakistan scored all their goals in the first half but showed slackness in the second session. South Africa, who displayed an improved game in the second half, scored the consolation goal in the 51st minute but squandered some sitters.

In all Pakistan earned four penalty corners and South Africa five.

“As the match could not have disturbed Pakistan’s top position, we tested few new players in the second half to give them exposure. That’s the reason the team failed to maintain its tempo in the second half,” said coach Tahir Zaman in post-match comments.

However, according to the official score sheet provided to the press, Pakistan made all three changes in the first half. Mohammad Ishtiaq came off the bench in the 19th minute, Mohammad Arif in the 26th and Asif Rana in the 32nd minute.

Asked what his team had gained so far from this tournament since it did not face real resistance, Tahir said “I was expecting a good team from India, but they came with some new players and we had tested some combination. We are on way to prepare the World Cup team and this is all we achieved,” he said.

South Africa coach Mark Hensberg said that credit should go to Pakistan for a big margin victory.

Asked what was the reason the South Africans played an attacking game earlier against Japan and India but they looked much weaker against Pakistan, the coach said “We did mistakes in the first session and improved in the second but a we missed chances that prevented us to stage a comeback,” he said.

Pakistan skipper Shakeel Abbasi wasted an opportunity in the 6th minute when he failed to connect a ball in front of the goalmouth. But he compensated with a goal scored past South Africa goalkeeper Dru Hewston through an angular hit from the top of the circle after a pass from Kashif Yaqoob.

Three minutes later, Pakistan went 2-0 up as Imran Warsi converted the second short corner in the 17th minute with a slow push.

Pakistan were 3-0 when Imran Warsi capitalised the third short corner in the 25th minute. Two minutes before the lemons the home team went 4-0 up through Ishtiaq who netted a spectacular goal after a goalmouth melee.

After resumption, South Africa scored the consolation in the 51st minute through Pierre Geldenhuys who converted the fourth penalty corner.

India grabbed the through Birendar Lakra in the 21st minute. The Indians doubled the lead in the 34th minute when Hari Prasad slammed home on a field effort.

Japan scored the solitary goal in the 43rd minute when Kei Kawakami came into action.