Sohail sets world record as Pakistan clinch hockey series
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

AMRITSAR (India): Penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas became the highest international goal-scorer in field hockey history as Pakistan beat India 2-1 to clinch the eight-match series.

Abbas, who was tied with Dutch legend Paul Litjkens on 267 goals before the match, converted Pakistan’s first penalty corner in the 10th minute to set the new mark as Pakistan took a decisive 4-1 lead in the seventh game on Friday.

His rasping strike hit a defender’s stick and seemed to go over the post but the umpires awarded a goal after an appeal from the Pakistan players, who showed them a hole in the goal netting.

Rehan Butt was the other marksman for Pakistan while Arjun Halappa converted a penalty stroke for India to reduce the margin.

“It is a very proud moment for our team as well as his friends and relatives back home,” captain Waseem Ahmed said after Abbas took his tally to 268. “He has served Pakistan very well over the years.”

Pakistan increased the lead in the 50th minute when an unmarked Butt came up with a superb reverse-flick from the top of the circle.

The forward, who takes the push during penalty-corners, had come close to scoring a little earlier when he hit the post in an indirect variation of a penalty-corner.

For the home side, Halappa, who converted a ‘stroke’ in the 53rd minute, played well up front to create two good chances for India in the first session.

Indian forwards failed to come in line of a cross from Halappa on the right flank with the defenders out of position, while Ignace Tirkey’s reverse-flick went wide after a move from Halappa down the centre.

“We deserved to win this match as we played better from the beginning. India were not too bad but we managed to dominate. It’s a great feeling to win the series and the whole team needs to be congratulated,” Waseem said.

The last match of the series, played in two legs of four matches each in Pakistan and India, will be held under floodlights on Sunday in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.●