<p>Vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh slammed a hat-trick as the Indian men's hockey team beat Wales 4-1 in its final Pool B match to qualify for the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.</p>.<p>Harmanpreet (19th, 20th, 40th minutes) converted two penalty corners and scored one from the spot while Gurjant Singh struck a field goal in the 49th minute for India.</p>.<p>Wales' lone goal was scored by drag-flicker Gareth Furlong in the 55th minute from a set piece.</p>.<p>After the win, India were on course to top Pool B as they enjoy a goal difference of 22 over England, who still have a match against Canada.</p>.<p>The Indians had the better share of possession in the first two quarters, but Wales gave a tough fight to their fancied opponents, especially in the first 15 minutes.</p>.<p>India relied on quick inter-passing game and made a few circle penetrations, but failed to create any clear cut chance, barring a penalty corner in the eighth minute, which Varun Kumar failed to utilise.</p>.<p>Wales also made some circle entries inside the Indian D and their best chance came when an unmarked Carlson's shot was saved by an onrushing Sreejesh from a one-on-one situation.</p>.<p>After a barren first quarter, India secured back-to-back penalty corners in the 18th minute, the second of which was put into goal by the ever-reliable Harmanpreet with a low powerful grounded flick.</p>.<p>A minute later, India secured another penalty corner and Harmanpreet exhibited his bagful of tricks with another perfect conversion to hand his side a 2-0 lead at half-time.</p>.<p>Two minutes after the change of ends, India secured their fifth penalty corner but wasted the chance.</p>.<p>In the 40th minute, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists earned back-to-back penalty corners, the second of which resulted in a penalty stroke, and Harmanpreet made no mistake from the spot.</p>.<p>Minutes later, Akashdeep Singh's deflection from a close range was kept out by Wales goalkeeper Tobias Reynolds-Cotterill.</p>.<p>An agile Gurjant made the scoreline 4-0 two minutes later as he perfectly turned the face of his stick to deflect in Samsher Singh's high pass.</p>.<p>Wales then secured two penalty corners in quick time and Furlong made use of the second opportunity.</p>.<p>A minute from the final hooter, India earned another set piece but Harmanpreet was denied by the Wales defence</p>
<p>Vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh slammed a hat-trick as the Indian men's hockey team beat Wales 4-1 in its final Pool B match to qualify for the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.</p>.<p>Harmanpreet (19th, 20th, 40th minutes) converted two penalty corners and scored one from the spot while Gurjant Singh struck a field goal in the 49th minute for India.</p>.<p>Wales' lone goal was scored by drag-flicker Gareth Furlong in the 55th minute from a set piece.</p>.<p>After the win, India were on course to top Pool B as they enjoy a goal difference of 22 over England, who still have a match against Canada.</p>.<p>The Indians had the better share of possession in the first two quarters, but Wales gave a tough fight to their fancied opponents, especially in the first 15 minutes.</p>.<p>India relied on quick inter-passing game and made a few circle penetrations, but failed to create any clear cut chance, barring a penalty corner in the eighth minute, which Varun Kumar failed to utilise.</p>.<p>Wales also made some circle entries inside the Indian D and their best chance came when an unmarked Carlson's shot was saved by an onrushing Sreejesh from a one-on-one situation.</p>.<p>After a barren first quarter, India secured back-to-back penalty corners in the 18th minute, the second of which was put into goal by the ever-reliable Harmanpreet with a low powerful grounded flick.</p>.<p>A minute later, India secured another penalty corner and Harmanpreet exhibited his bagful of tricks with another perfect conversion to hand his side a 2-0 lead at half-time.</p>.<p>Two minutes after the change of ends, India secured their fifth penalty corner but wasted the chance.</p>.<p>In the 40th minute, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists earned back-to-back penalty corners, the second of which resulted in a penalty stroke, and Harmanpreet made no mistake from the spot.</p>.<p>Minutes later, Akashdeep Singh's deflection from a close range was kept out by Wales goalkeeper Tobias Reynolds-Cotterill.</p>.<p>An agile Gurjant made the scoreline 4-0 two minutes later as he perfectly turned the face of his stick to deflect in Samsher Singh's high pass.</p>.<p>Wales then secured two penalty corners in quick time and Furlong made use of the second opportunity.</p>.<p>A minute from the final hooter, India earned another set piece but Harmanpreet was denied by the Wales defence</p>