LAHORE, Jan 8: Four goals by Hissam Ali Hyder helped Master Paints Whites qualify for the Toyota Cup Polo final as they edged out The Bank of Punjab 6-5½ in the last league match here on Saturday.

It was anyone’s game as the bankers, who had a half-goal handicap, made a stormy start when Shah Qubilai Alam and Hamza Nawaz Khan had struck one goal each in first three minutes of the first chukker.

However, the Whites staged a comeback with Sufi Mohammad Haris and Hissam scoring one goal each to make it 2½-2 before the close of the chukker.

The Bank of Punjab retained the lead in the second chukker by pumping in two more goals while conceding one. While Hamza hit his second goal, Waseem Sial added another to increase the lead to 4-2 1/2.

But, in dying minutes Raja Nadeem banged home a goal for the winners to reduce the lead to 4-3½.

The third chukker saw the bankers maintain the slim half-goal lead (5-4½) as Waseem scored his second for them and Hissam started his brilliant work by adding his second goal for Master Paints Whites.

Hissam dominated the final chukker with back-to-back goals, converting 60-yard penalty hits to change the fortunes.

In the final, Master Paints Whites will take on Guard Group/Diamond Paints on Sunday.

In another match, Remounts defeated PICIC Insurance to qualify for the third-place match, to be held against the Pakistan Air Force on Sunday.

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