Pakistan defeated Malaysia 6-5 in a brilliant field hockey match today that lifted both teams into the Commonwealth Games semi-finals at India's expense.

India, who beat South Africa 2-0 earlier in the day, needed Pakistan or Malaysia to win by a two-goal margin and also prevent the loser from scoring more than three goals.

Instead, Malaysia fought back after being 1-4 down in the first 20 minutes and then 2-5 early in the second half to make it 5-5 before Rehan Butt scored Pakistan's winner nine minutes before the final whistle.

Malaysian captain Kuhan Shanmuganathan was his team's hero in defeat, banging in four penalty corners to keep Pakistan on their toes in the thrilling encounter.

Pakistan topped group B with 10 points while Malaysia and India finished with seven points each and also had the same goal difference of plus-8.

Malaysia squeaked through to the semi-finals by scoring 16 goals in the competition against India's 14 - making Shanmuganathan's four-goal effort today even more crucial.

Pakistan and Malaysia will know their semi-final opponents after the last round of group A matches later today when Australia play New Zealand and England take on Canada.