Harmanpreet’s hat-trick puts India in semis

Birmingham: Vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh slammed a hattrick as the Indian men’s hockey team beat Wales 4-1 in its final Pool B match to qualify for the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.

Harmanpreet (19th, 20th, 40th minutes) converted two penalty corners and scored one from the spot while Gurjant Singh struck a field goal in the 49th minute for India.

Wales’ lone goal was scored by drag-flicker Gareth Furlong in the 55th minute from a set piece. After the win, India were on course to top Pool B as they enjoy a goal difference of 22 over England, who still have a match against Canada. The Indians had the better share of possession in the first two quarters, but Wales gave a tough fight to their fancied opponents, especially in the first 15 minutes.

 India relied on quick inter-passing game and made a few circle penetrations, but failed to create any clear cut chance, barring a penalty corner in the eighth minute, which Varun Kumar failed to utilise.

Wales also made some circle entries inside the Indian D and their best chance came when an unmarked Carlson’s shot was saved by an onrushing Sreejesh from a one-on-one situation.

 In the 40th minute, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists earned back-to-back penalty corners, the second of which resulted in a penalty stroke, and Harmanpreet made no mistake from the spot.