Lahore - Captain Abdul Haseem Khan’s brace helped Pakistan beat New Zealand 2-1 on Wednesday in the fourth of the five-match hockey test series in Carterton Wairarapa.

The green shirts are at the threshold of winning a series with the last match to be played today (Thursday). After three tests in New Zealand's capital Wellington, the two sides moved to Carterton, Wairarapa for the last two matches and the green shirts demonstrated a high-quality hockey to establish supremacy in the series by winning the match, said Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) spokesman here on Wednesday.

“Pakistan success owed to their captain Haseem, who exhibited superb hockey in the role of mentor for a team, which has majority of young players,” he added.

The hosts began aggressively but Pakistan soon wrested the initiative and applied pressure. They were ahead after 10 minutes. Haseem beautifully slipped through a congested defence before flicking the ball in with a nice flick. One minute into the second quarter, it was 1-1. A wonderful run from Harry Miskimmin was put into the goal by Jonty Keane. With seven minutes to go before the half time, the green shirts were again in front; again through Haseem Khan who showed good opportunism as Pak finished 2-1 at half time.

Third quarter saw the momentum swinging to and fro but the score board didn't change. With crowd loudly cheering them, the Black Sticks went all out for the equaliser in the last 15 minutes. Pakistanis defended resolutely to keep the lead intact when the final hooter sounded. Interestingly, there was no penalty corner goal today. The two sides had scored 10 goals off the set piece in the first three tests.

The last test today (Thursday) is being billed as a match of nerves as New Zealand world's 8th ranked team will be under immense pressure to win the game to share the series with the 14th ranked Pakistan.