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Pillay stars in second win

India maintained its winning ways at the four-nation hockey tournament in Perth, cruising past South Africa 3-0 on Thursday, and almost certainly guaranteeing a place in the final.

Bar some freak statistical occurrence, India will be playing either Germany or Australia in the final match on Sunday afternoon.

On Wednesday, India had beaten favourites Australia 2-1.

The scoreline, however, is no reflection of the first 20 minutes of the game, during which it was almost an even contest with both teams making forays into each other's territory.

It was only in the 23rd minute that some Dhanraj Pillay magic broke the deadlock.

The Indian live wire was brilliant today. On a counter attack, he weaved past the South African defence, even leaving the goalkeeper sprawled out outside the circle. He looked around and offered the ball to Gagan Singh, who only had to tap in the direction of the goal. Gagan made no mistake to put India into the lead in a manner one would associate with Indian teams of the gold-old glory days (1-0).

The goal seemed to make the Indians complacent and the South Africans hit back but could not apply finishing touches to the opportunities that came their way.

With two minutes to go for the break, and just as it seemed Indian coach Bhaskaran's gamble of playing the injured Dhillon was slowing down the team, the India's No 10 put India 2-0 up

Dhillon's forceful reverse flick was just what was required after Pillay had once again woven his magic around the South Africans.

Indian seemed sitting comfortable at 2-0, but there must have been doubts in their minds because just 24 hours earlier their opponents had come back from a similar score to draw level with Germany.

Some loose play and indifferent passing gave the South Africans a few opportunities to pull one back but captain Ramandeep and goalkeeper Jude Menezes repeatedly denied the opposition any success.

It was only with three minutes to go to the end that another Pillay counter attack split the South African defence through the middle to produce India's second penalty-corner and the third of the game.

The penalty-corner conversion came off a South African defender's foot and umpire Tim Pullman had no hesitation to point to the penalty spot. Dhillon placed the ball on the far corner of the net to seal India's victory. (3-0).

South African coach Giles Bonnet said India's performance in the second half of the match together with Wednesday's game against Australia was the best defending he had ever seen by an Indian team.

''It must be very pleasing for them that they are now getting a good balance between attack and defence,'' he said. ''India will always score, they needed to get their defence in order and that's just what they are doing."

Bhaskaran agreed that the defence was again the key to the win today, saying good ball-positioning while defending was the secret to the success.

"We are improving in all the sectors of the game from goalkeeper to forwards, but we know to succeed, it is the defence which must be as solid as it has been over the last two days,'' he said.

''When the defence does not commit too many errors then we have a flow in our game as we had today.

''Though it was 3-0, it was a hardfought victory and the good combination between the link and the forwards saw the margin grow to three.''

India face Germany on Saturday, tomorrow being the rest for the tournament.

On Wednesday, a goal in each half enabled India shock Australia 2-1 in the opening match of the four-nation hockey tournament.

The Indians, who lost to the hosts 2-3 in the first leg, came up with an improved display to register their second successive victory following the impressive victory over South Africa in the last match of the first leg.

Deepak Thakur put the visitors ahead in the 28th minute and then defender Dilip Tirkey slammed the match-winner from a penalty-corner in the 51st minute. Brent Livermore pulled one back for the Aussies.

UNI