Sohail Abbas makes it count with his trademark drag-flick in the 32 minute to give Pakistan a 3-1 lead in the first half. -Photo courtesy FIH

SALTA, Argentina The second semi-final of the BDO Champions Challenge between India and Pakistan being played in Salta, Argentina, turned out to be a classic encounter, as is always the case when the two sides lock horns. In sharp contrast to the more sedate first semi-final between hosts Argentina and New Zealand, which ended in a 3-2 win for the Kiwis, the second game produced fast, end-to-end hockey and kept the crowd in it till the final buzzer.

Pakistan started the game off in typical crash-and-bang style and opened the scoring within two minutes of play through the experienced forward Rehan Butt. Butt seemed to have imparted some back spin on the ball with a reverse shot that trickled between the legs of the Indian goalie Adrian DSouza.

Less than two minutes later, Prabhjot Singh and Muhammad Irfan were sent off with yellow cards. With another Pakistani player seating off a green card, India forced a penalty-corner and Dhananjay Mahadik made full use of it to reset the scores level in the 8^th minute.

From that point on India seemed to control the game, slowing it down and keeping possession. The men in blue easily looked the better of the two sides during that little period and send a barrage of shots down Pakistani goalkeeper Salman Akbars throat. But Akbar, easily the best stopper in the tournament, always managed to keep the shots out.

The game between the two subcontinent sides was different for another reason. Just as Brazil and France seem to have that individual flare in world football, so do Pakistan and India in hockey. It is what makes South Asian hockey special but at the same time leaves them in a little bit of a muddle when facing European teams with tight defensive lines.

Rehan Butt at the top of the circle displayed exactly that, with a phenomenal shot from the top of the circle in the 29th minute. Butt had such a tight angle to work with to get the ball into the top right that it even left Adrian DSouza amazed. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say that was impossible.

In the 32nd minute Pakistan, now looking to press that advantage, forced a penalty corner. Sohail Abbas made it look extremely easy with a drag-flick that fizzed by the Indians and thudded in the post and gave the Green Shirts a 3-1 lead and some positive momentum going into the break.

India seemed a bit lethargic coming out for the second period but they soon found their footing and some excellent work by Rajpal Singh on the back line forced a penalty-corner. Unfortunately for India they could not convert it.

But the missed chance seemingly buoyed them and they went on the offensive. They pushed deeper and deeper in the Pakistan circle with quick passing and physical agility but somehow could not find the finishing touch

The attack, however, left their their defense completely vulnerable and Haseem Khan made the Indians pay with an opportunistic goal in the 58th minute, pushing the Pakistani lead to 3 goals.

The end of the game saw a succession of goals at both ends (4 goals in 8 minutes), first Dhananjay Mahadik on penalty-corner, then the 2008 Asian Player of the Year Rehan Butt completing his hat-trick of field goals, then another penalty-corner for India this time by Diwakar Ram and finally Sohail Abbas converting a penalty-stroke after his last penalty-corner was stopped illegally.

Pakistans 6-3 win will give them immense confidence going in to Sundays final against New Zealand, who judging by the semi-final against Argentina, seem to be in peak physical condition.

Second Semi-final

India - Pakistan  36
PAK   2mn  Rehan BUTT (FG)  01
IND   8mn  Dhananjay MAHADIK (PC)  11
PAK  29mn  Rehan BUTT (FG)  12
PAK  32mn  Sohail ABBAS (PC)  13
PAK  58mn  Haseem KHAN (FG)  14
IND  62mn  Dhananjay MAHADIK (PC)  24
PAK  64mn  Rehan BUTT (FG)  25
IND  67mn  Diwakar RAM  (PC)  35
PAK  70mn  Sohail ABBAS (PS)  36