KARACHI, 27 February 2006 — India scored three goals within eight minutes in a spectacular comeback to force a 3-3 draw against Pakistan in the final match of the six-Test hockey series in Rawalpindi.

Trailing by three goals, the Indians dominated the last 15 minutes of the action-packed game to end the Pakistan leg of the series with a 1-0 win.

Short corner specialist Sandeep Singh brought India back into the match with a 54th minute strike while Shivender Singh and man of the match Vikram

Pillay’s struck in quick succession to pull off a satisfactory result for India.

Pakistan had already secured the series by winning the first three Tests in India last week but were unable to record a single victory on home soil. The fourth Test in Lahore ended in a 1-1 draw while the Indians won 2-1 in Faisalabad on Friday.

Pakistan went into the final match with an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series. They rested key strikers Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi, both nursing minor injuries.

The hosts had a great start when Tariq Aziz capitalized on a poor clearance from defender Harpal Singh to take them 1-0 ahead in the fourth minute.

The Indians counter attacked and got close twice but Sardara Singh and Tushar Khandekar were unable to get past Pakistani goalie Salman Akbar. Pakistan made it 2-0 when skipper Muhammad Saqlain connected a pass from fellow midfielder Dilawar Hussain in the 28th minute.

Pakistan continued their goal-scoring spree when winger Shabbir Hussain sounded the board with a rasping drive from the top of the circle seven minutes into the second session.

Just when India seemed to be down and out, came the comeback act.

Youngster Sandeep Singh converted India’s third short corner to reduce the deficit as India put their foot on the pedal to make it 2-3 when Shivander Singh struck in the 61st minute. Vikram Pillay got the equalizer in the very next minute, forcing Pakistan to change their first choice goalie Salman.

“It was a good match,” said Indian coach Rajinder Singh Jr. “My boys did well to come back from such a huge deficit and that shows they have guts,” said Rajinder, who has been under fire for India’s disappointing show in recent international outings.

Pakistani coach Asif Bajwa said his boys relaxed after a three-goal lead which led to an Indian comeback. “But I would give full credit to India for staging a marvelous comeback. They were very aggressive in the last quarter and took the game away from us,” said Bajwa.

Pakistan and India would now meet again in the opening game of the Commonwealth Games hockey event in Melbourne next month.