Namdhari XI strokes out Bharat Petroleum

New Delhi, Dec 2: Namdhari XI stroked out last year's runners up Bharat Petroleum 3-1 via tie breaker to set up a title clash with Punjab National Bank (PNB) in the 18th Shastri Hockey tournament here today.

PNB had beaten holders Indian Oil 1-0 in the first semi final yesterday.

The second semi final this afternoon was surprisngly a drab affair with both teams displaying a lethargic hockey.

The Namdharis had more share of the ball and also earned three penalty corners but failed to make use of them.

Bharat Petroleum having several internationals in their ranks failed to click and even their expert Gurpreet Singh could not get them the much needed goal though they earned two penalty corners.

Namdharis attacked but near the rival circle they tended to lose their way finding it hard to get past the defenders.

Same was the case with Petroleum men. Their attacks lacked penetration and they were wayward in their counter moves.

As the teams failed to score in the regulation period, tie breaker was applied in which Bharat Petroleum failed to convert their first three strokes and Namdharis emerged winners.

For Namdharis Harpal Singh, Sher Singh and Gurvinder Singh found their target while Anmolak Singh and Gurcharan Singh muffed their first and third strokes respecively.

Gurpreet Singh, Irshad Ali and Puneet failed to convert their strokes while Amar Aiyamma managed to score but by that time it was too late.

UNI