India's white attire vs the all-black worn by Wales was not the only contrast in the Pool B contest between the two teams on Thursday. While Wales gave a good account of themselves, the game-changer proved to be India's star dragflicker and hat-trick man Harmanpreet Singh.
Riding on the defender's unmatched goal scoring ability, India stormed past Wales 4-1. With the win, India sealed their semifinal berth and topped Pool A.
Both India and England finished their league engagements with 10 points each, but India (22) with a better goal difference finished ahead of the hosts (17). In the last-four, Manpreet Singh and his men will take on the winners of the match between New Zealand and South Africa, while England run into defending champions Australia.
There is an outside chance of an India-Pakistan clash, if the latter beat Australia convincingly and come through as the second-placed team on goal difference.
After a barren first quarter, in which Wales did well to withstand India's repeated attacks, Harmanpreet put India ahead in the 18th minute. He brought precision to the fore, slotting the ball into the right corner of the post.
Harmanpreet was not done in showcasing variations or versatility in his dragflicks and he doubled the lead the very next minute. This time he positioned himself straight and whipped the ball into the far left post. He completed his hat-trick when he faked and slotted home a penalty stroke to the right of the goalkeeper in the 41st minute.
In the 49th minute, Gurjant Singh completed India's tally, deflecting home Shamsher Singh's hit. The referee disallowed the goal citing dangerous play but India won it on referral. In terms of ball possession, there was little to separate the two teams with India ahead with a slender 51-49 advantage. But what divided the two sides was circle penetrations, with India enjoying 26 against Wales 14.
With five minutes to go, India allowed Wales back in with some sloppy defence. Wales pulled one back when Gareth Fur- long sounded the board off a penalty corner with the ball going into the goal off a deflection from Surender Kumar's stick.
