Improved Pakistan put up its best performance so far in the Dhaka Asia Cup, but it was not adequate against the perfect Team India. Picking up its London form, India continued its winning spree against their famed rival, with a 3-1 victory today in the last pool match for the both. Both teams have entered the Super 4s.

Its only second win for India against Pak in the annals of Asia Cup where they have met 8 times till date.

An electrifying goal from midfield maestro Chinglensana Singh set the tenor for India (1-0, 17th min)and then at the fag end of third quarter Ramandeep Singh dived to connect a deep push by Harmanpreet (2-0) before the supplier himself turned in a beauty off a penalty corner (3-0), leading to a situation that India will overrun Pak in the fourth quarter.

It did not happen. Pakistan regrouped well to deny India space, and in fact it dominated most part of the last quarter except last 3,4 minutes. In this spell, Ali Shan (3-1) struck much to the delight of the goody crowd.

Its Akash Chikte of India who denied Pak further goals with excellent anticipation and nice, acrobatic tackling.

India took lead in the second quarter with gem of a goal from hardworking Chinglensana Singh, this survived till half time. Pak has got two penalty corners in the first half against nil by India, but could not convert due to compact Indian defence and good work under the bar by goalie Akash Chikte.

SK Uthappa, SV Sunil and Gurjant Singh has got at least one easy chance to score in the first half, but Pak goalie denied the space. Gurjant Singh, after outpacing many a defender shot the ball at side netting even as Sunil failed to connect the ball twice by breadth of a hair.

Both teams played a flawless and fast game. Young forward Atiq almost scored when he hit a low aerial ball to the right corner of the net, where Indian goalie Chikte played best part of first half taking the ball on his pads.Its a close shave for India.

India led Pak 1-0 at half time.
India converted only one of its five penalty corners while Pak wasted all their four.

Early in the third quarter, two Pakistan players simultaneously got yellow card suspension, leaving two persons less on the field but India could not make use of the godsend opportunity.

Pakistan defence was excellent and stood to the task. An expected Indian surge, surge after surge, did not results in goals.