(By Jugjet Singh)

PAKISTAN made a great impact in the 17th Edition of the Azlan Shah Cup when they trashed New Zealand 6-3 in Ipoh yesterday.

And the toast of the day was Rehan Butt, who scored four goals, and placed his team as the early favourites to lay their hands on the Trophy.

Pakistan were in a mean mood, and had New Zealand in a firm grip even though they were down 0-1 by the sixth minute.

New Zealand skipper Phillip Burrows' reverse stick attempt was like a training show, but Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar failed the stop the floating attempt.

But that was as far as the Kiwis went, as Pakistan raised their tempo to mesmerising heights, and nailed the equaliser in the 11th minute, when Rehan Butt connected a cross from Muhammad Saqlain.

And New Zealand were further punished three minutes later, when Shakeel Abbassi scored after receiving a pass from Rehan Butt.

New Zealand were back-paddling after that, and Pakistan sent them deeper into the abyss in the 28th minute, and this time, Saqlain got his name on the scoreboard when he scored their third.

New Zealand looked like they were in for a trashing, as a brilliant field goal from Rehan Butt in the 30th minute made it 4-1.

But the Black Sticks were made of sturdier stuff, as they narrowed the score with a penalty corner goal from Hayden Shaw in the 33rd minute.

Hayden was again the point-man for the Kiwis, after emerging from the dressing room. He scored his penalty corner brace in the 47th minute, and now the match was almost an open affair as the score stood at 4-3.

But Rehan Butt had other plans, as he scored his hat-trick off a goalmouth melee in the 60th minute, and made it harder for the Kiwis to draw or snatch a victory. And just as regulation time came to an end, Rehan Butt scored his fourth and the Kiwis were trashed 6-3.