IPOH: Defending champion Malaysia produced a stunner to beat world number 10, New Zealand 6-4 in the 30th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (SASC) as striker Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal fired his second hat-trick of the tournament.

The Speedy Tigers were firing on all cylinders despite the rainy weather conditions at the Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium by starting the scoring spree as early as the second minute through Faizal Saari’s field goal against the Olympic-bound side.

Malaysia ranked world number 13, then extended the lead through Azrai Aizad’s penalty corner in the fifth minute, while young hitman Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin scored his second international goal in his third cap, a minute later to bring cheers for some 4,000 spectators in the stadium.

This is a learning process but the players are committed and will get there slowly.