Contrasting wins for Australia and Pakistan
In the most exciting encounter, six goals by four- handicapper Brodie Donovan helped Australia catch up with India thrice before winning in the sudden-death period 9-8.
Eight goals by Hissam Ali Hyder and five by Shah Qublai Alam, both three-handicappers, enabled Pakistan to trash Iran 20- 1 1/2.
The India-Australia clash turned out to be a personal tussle between Donovan and the Indian skipper Sameer Suhag, but Robert Balliard excelled in the extra sixth chukker by scoring the golden goal.
Sameer, who scored seven goals, including double hat tricks, committed a blunder when India were leading 8-7 in the final fifth chukker.
Donovan was on the attack from the right, but missed the forehander. Sameer, chasing Donovan picked the ball, but instead of retaining it he hit a forehander straight back to Donovan.
The stunned Donovan, did not let the opportunity pass by as he lofted the ball into the goal post about 80 yards away from the right side for a spectacular goal which also restored the much needed parity,
However, Donovan could have averted the sixth extra chukker had he not missed out three penalty shots in the dying minutes of the fifth chukker. On all the three occasions, Shamsheer Ali deflected the penalties with time interruption. Shamsheer was later adjudged the Man-of-the-Match.
Earlier, Australia came from behind to level the score 2-2 in the first chukker. Jock Mackay gave the Australians an early lead, scoring a field goal after carrying the ball for about 100 yards. Sameer struck two back-to-back goals converting a 40 and 30 yards penalties to put India 2-1 ahead. Donovan converted the 60 yards penalty with a lofted shot to equal the score.
India dominated the second chukker as Sameer struck three goals in a row to give India a 5-2 lead. He completed his first hat trick by scoring a field goal. Sameer then converted two back- to-back 40 yards hits first with a rolling shot and the second with was lofted.
The match was at its peak in the third chukker. Australia staged a brilliant comeback after being 6-2 in arrears to again hold the high flying Indians 6-6 by adding four goals.
First Sameer made it 6-2 by scoring a field goal and completing his second hat trick. He scored with a brilliant under the neck shot with an acute angle.
Donovan scored three goals in a row to complete his first hat-trick. He converted a 40, 30 and then 60 yards penalties. His captain Adam Tolhurst, another four-handicapper, chipped in with a goal as Australia managed to make it 6-all.
India again leapt ahead 8-6 by adding two more goals in the fourth chukker. Sameer struck his seventh goal to complete his tally while Ravi Rahotre scored his lone goal crowning a field effort.
But it was again Donovan who kept Australia in the match which could be called the final for either side. Donovan again levelled the score 8-8 by scoring two more goals in quick succession. He converted a 40 yards penalty first, before Sameer provided him the chance to equal the score.
In the third minute of the sudden death, both teams exchanged quick attacks but honour went to Ballard who scored the golden goal with a superb under the neck shot from a difficult angle.
Teams:
Australia — Jock Mackay (3), Adam Tolhurst (4), Robert Ballard (4), Brodie Donovan (4).
India — Simran Singh Shergill (2), Shamsheer Ali (5), Samir Suhag (5), Ravi Rathore (2).
Pakistan, playing their fourth match of the World Cup qualifying round, displayed high class polo against Iran who were playing their first match of this competition.
Iran were playing with a half goal handicap. Pakistan scored four goals in each chukker.
Samiullah Raja drew the first blood as Pakistan made a flying start 4- to half. Qublai scored three goals in a row to complete his hat trick.
Pakistan made it 8 goals to half in the second chukker to increase the lead to 8 to half goals. Samiullah (2) and the top- scorer Hissam (1) and Qublai (1) were the scorers.
Pakistan built up 12 to half goals lead in the third chukker. Hissam added two goals while Samiullah and Qublai one each.
In the fourth chukker, Pakistan scored four more goals. This time Hissam scored twice while captain Murad Ismail and Samiullah banged home a goal each.
In the fifth chukker Hissam scored three times to complete a hat trick while Murad got his second to complete Pakistan’s tally. Iran scored their consolation goal in the same chukker when Reza Behboodi banged home a field goal before Murad’s goal. Siamack Ilkhanizadeh twice fell from his pony but was not injured.
Teams:
Pakistan — Hissam Ali Hyder (3), Samiullah Raja (4),Murad Ismail (3), Shah Qublai Alam (3).
Iran — Meshkan Azarnoosh (2), Bahram Jahanbani (3), Reza Behboodi (4), Siamack Ikhanizadeh (3).
Tuesday’s fixtures: Iran v Australia 12.30 pm; Singapore v India 2 pm.
Australia 9 India 8
Pakistan 20 Iran 1 ½