Slam bang at the hockey World Cup

New Delhi: There was no doubt where the allegiance of the spectators lay. Each Pakistan move was cheered wildly, especially when they were two goals down against England in the pool B match.
The four-time champions did take inspiration from the support, but did not have the wherewithal to match the energetic opposition through 70 minutes.

England dominated the first session and also put up a stupendous rally towards the end to prevail 5-2 and move towards a semifinal spot with their third consecutive win.

A strike by James Tindall was reversed after a referral as he volleyed in the ball from above shoulder height, but the early pressure was on Pakistan. Jonty Clarke put the sixth-ranked team ahead in the 20th minute while Ashley Jackson shot in on off Barry Middleton to make it 2-0.

Pakistan kept their head above the water with two quick goals in the second session, Shakeel Abbasi knocking in one after a superb solo effort and Rehan Butt scoring off a penalty-corner gained by Irfan Muhammad in the very next minute.

England goalkeeper James Fair did a fine job, especially with penalty-corners, but an injury to him did not affect their fortunes as Middleton put the ball in twice in the final session and Clarke scored his second goal with a cracking shot from the right of the ‘D’.

There were skirmishes in the field early on and the long-hooter heralded a near scuffle between the players, cutting down on the celebrations from England. “The umpires did not take control of the match. If Shivendra Singh of India was suspended following video reviews, I hope the tournament director takes note of the behaviour of England’s players too,” said an agitated Rehan Butt after the match.

Australia, who have been like wounded tigers after their initial loss to England, registered the biggest margin of victory in a World Cup match when they humiliated South Africa 12-0. Penalty-corner specialist Luke Doerner, who scored four goals during the spree to take the lead in the goal-scorer’s tally in the championship at five, was happy to have converted short corners with such ease.

“It was good to score so many goals, especially because our penalty-corner conversions were good. We did not do well in the first game (lost to England 2-3) and it was important for us to come back in such fashion in the tournament,” said the 31-year-old who has been playing for the Kookaburras for five years now.

One of the scorers in the 5-2 win over India, Doerner struck the first goal for the Aussies in the 13th minute. He also scored their fourth and seventh goals before completing the tally with the final one just two minutes from the long hooter. Jamie Dwyer struck thrice, Glenn Turner found the mark twice, while Matthew Butturini, Fergus Kavanagh and Desmond Abbott shot in once each for Australia, who led 5-0 at half-time.