Thaindian News

Chennai, July 17 (IANS) Hockey India Colts chalked up their first win in two matches and maintained their unbeaten record in Pool B as they edged out Southern Railway 1-0 in the 86th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here Saturday.
Later, in a rain-interrupted game, Punjab National Bank opened their campaign in Pool B with a 3-2 win against Bharat Petroleum, who thus crashed to their first loss in two outings.

Earlier, in muggy and humid conditions, Karnataka XI squandered a 3-0 half-time advantage as Namdhari XI struck thrice on resumption for a 3-3 draw in a pool A game.

Karnataka, who had lost their opening fixture, seemingly moved into a commanding position on goals by Ravi Kumar (8th), Nithin Thimmaiah (12th) and Vivek Ramakrishna (17th).

With Namdhari on the defensive, Karnataka had every opportunity to consolidate and record their first win, but committed unpardonable blunders in the second-half, conceding three goals in a seven-minute spell.

Goals by Gurpreet Singh (57th, 58th) and Harpreet Singh (62nd minute) saw Namdhari, who had lost their first match, on level terms as they applied tremendous pressure that eventually told on a tottering Karnataka defence.

The Hockey India Colts yet again threatened only to fumble at the finish against a youthful Southern Railway, who were kept afloat by goalkeeper MG Suresh until Naveen Sangwan came off the bench and slammed the match-winner in the 64th minute off a pass from Lalit Upadhyaya.

The PNB-BPCL game was stretched beyond the scheduled time due to two rain-induced stoppages with the bankmen staging a fine comeback after being twice in arrears.

Karamjit Singh scored twice for BPCL in the 13th and 48th minutes while PNB replied through Satpal Singh (40th), Ravinder Twetia (60th) and Lakhwinder Singh (61st) in a match that could have gone either way.

BPCL wasted a few chances after being in the lead twice and the interruptions due to heavy rains did not help on a pitch that was saturated with water. PNB adapted better to the conditions to run out deserving winners.