IPOH (Malaysia), May 9: Rehan Butt scored four goals, including a hat-trick, as Pakistan defeated New Zealand 6-3 in a highly entertaining Sultan Azlan Shah Cup match on Friday.

Pakistan, who beat hosts Malaysia 3-2 on Thursday, placed themselves among the favourites in this seven-team tournament with near flawless hockey.

Argentina also were also rampant as they beat India 5-1, while earlier Canada edged Belgium 1-0.

Pakistan had to come from behind as New Zealand drew first blood but failed to capitalise in the match at the Azlan Shah Stadium in northern Perak state.

New Zealand skipper Phillip Burrows gave his team the lead in the sixth minute, noticing Pakistan’s goalkeeper Salman Akbar was blocked by his own players, and sending a shot sailing into the back of the net.

But Pakistan did not let the goal dampen their spirits, producing an equaliser five minutes later, when Rehan connected with a cross from Mohammad Saqlain.

Before New Zealand could recover, Pakistan took the lead in the 14th minute, with Shakeel Abbasi scoring after receiving the ball from Butt.

Saqlain added another on 28 minutes and two minutes later it was 4-1 following a brilliant strike from Rehan.The Black Sticks narrowed the gap with a penalty corner goal from Hayden Shaw in the 33rd minute. Shaw struck again from another penalty corner on 47 minutes, making it 4-3 and putting Pakistan under pressure.

However, Rehan scored his third goal on the hour mark following a goalmouth scramble before putting the result beyond doubt nine minutes later with his fourth goal, which also completed a hat-trick for him.

The first match of the day was delayed for more than one hour as torrential rain flooded the artificial pitch at the Azlan Shah Stadium.

When the game was finally played it was Canada’s Matthew Guest who scored the winner in the 50th minute. The North Americans, in their first match of the tournament, came agonisingly close to increasing their lead but poor finishing was their bane.

It was Belgium’s second defeat of the tournament, as they lost 2-1 to Argentina on Thursday.

Argentina, who will take part in the Champions Trophy in the Netherlands in June, hammered India 5-1 to chalk up their second consecutive win in the tournament.

Facundo Callioni scored two goals, while the remaining three were scored by Pedro Ibarra, Tomas Argento and Juan Martin Lopez. Sandeep Singh was India’s only scorer.

The tournament will continue on Sunday when Canada play India, Malaysia take on New Zealand while Pakistan meet Argentina.

Results:

Canada 1 Belgium 0

Pakistan 6 New Zealand 3

Argentina 5 India 1

—AFP