SINGAPORE, June 15 New Zealand knocked Pakistan out of the ninth Junior World Cup hockey tournament with a convincing 4-2 victory at Kengsang Sports Centre here on Monday.

Pakistan seemed to be on the road to recovery when they squared the Group 'F' match 2-2 early in the second half, fighting back from a two-goal deficit but then conceded two stunning field goals to taste a bitter defeat which virtually dropped them out of the medal race.

Pakistan were left with a mountain to climb when they fell to two goal arrears within 12 minutes against the Kiwis' Nicholas Wilson, sending a reverse flick from the top-left of the semi-circle past Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Butt in the eighth minute and then Stephen Jennes consolidating the lead, scoring off goalkeepers rebound from their second, albeit last, penalty-corner of the match.

Pakistan pulled one back, thanks to striker Mohammad Waqas who tapped the ball home from close range after a goalmouth melee in the 15th minute.

Changing ends at 1-2 behind, Pakistan gave their chances a new lease of life when Abbas Haider dived to get the ball past the Kiwi custodian Alexander Shrodder in the 10th minute.

Pakistan's jubilation proved short-lived as just two minutes later New Zealand again stole the lead, their skipper Simon Child running down the right flank and then flicking the ball back from near the post for Hugo Inglis to gently push it past the goal line.

With Pakistan missing a couple of sitters in the second half, New Zealand virtually sealed the fate of the fast-paced encounter when Simon Child worked his way on the left side of the semi-circle to bang the boards with a long-range reverse sweep.—APP