Perth: India produced a much-improved show after their opening match loss as they played out a 1-1 draw against arch-rivals Pakistan in a thrilling league match of the Lanco International Super Series Hockey 9s in Perth on Friday.
India, who had lost to New Zealand 3-6 in their opening match, were the more dominant side of the two for most part of the fast-paced match, but they were also lucky not to have lost the match as Pakistan wasted a penalty stroke.
Substitute goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who replaced his captain Bharat Chetri in the second half, saved the stroke taken by Waseem Ahmad a couple of minutes before the final hooter.
Sreejesh came out early and made a neat clearance, to the relief of the tense Indian camp.
It was Pakistan who scored first in the 12th minute through veteran Waseem Ahmad as he gently pushed the ball home from close range.
But Pakistan's lead lasted less than a minute as India's Ravi Pal scored the equaliser with a diving reverse stick shot, with Manjit Kullu and V Raghnath playing big role in serving the ball up front.
The goal was Pal's second in the tournament.
In the second half, India had chances to take the lead but Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Shah spoilt the chances that came to Sunil and Tushar Kandkar.
In the final moments of the match, India got another chance when Yuvraj Walmiki tapped a loose ball on the top of the circle but he failed to get it past the goalie.
Pakistan came out strongly in spells but barring captain Sohail Abbasi, others were rusty in their attack.
In the dying moments, Pakistan got a couple of moves that threatened the Indian defence and it took extra effort from Gurbaj Singh, Manjit Kullu and Sardar Singh to see that the score-line remained unchanged.
India coach Michael Nobbs seemed a relived man at the end of the match as he expressed satisfaction over his wards' performance.
"We did a good job. We had the better of exchanges and had more penetration than Pakistan," he said.
"I would have been happier had we won it," he added.
Hailing Sreejesh, who stopped the penalty stroke, Nobbs said, "We are good at one-to-one situations, as we showed during the Champions Trophy. It is good that we again proved it again here."
Meanwhile, a modest Ravi Pal refused to take credit for ensuring India drew with Pakistan by scoring the equaliser.
"It's okay I scored. In fact, I tried, it clicked, nothing more than that. I would have been happy had we defeated them, for we had many chances to go up and end that way," said the 28-year-old who struck back for India with a stunner within a minute after Pakistan had taken the lead.
Ravi Pal has been in fine touch in the series so far, displaying quick reflexes and a hawkish eye for gaps. He also scored in India's 3-6 defeat against New Zealand in the opening match.
He traditionally plays at midfield and sets up forwards for goals.
Asked on his transformation from being the pivot to the striker, he said he was doing the job the coach has assigned him to.
"My job is to do what the coach asks me to. What is important is to follow what the coach says. This tournament is for scoring goals. He trained all of us for scoring, so I am doing what he has asked me to do," he said.
"We have to play the Olympic Qualifiers in the 11 vs 11 format. If the coach feels I should also be a striker there, what is big deal, I will be happy to do that," he added.
Ravi Pal, who had scored only three goals in the 52 international matches he had figured in before coming to this tournament, plays for Bharat Petroleum in the domestic circuit.
He was over 25 when made his international debut and many had doubted his future prospects. He proved his critics wrong and has gained the confidence of all the coaches who have trained India in the last five years.
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