Punjab

Jalandhar, Nov 14 (UNI) Punjab and Sindh Bank (P&SB) will clash with last year's runners up Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in the men's final of the 23rd Indian Oil Surjit Hockey Tournament here tomorrow.

In the semifinals played at the Burlton Park Surjit Hockey Stadium here today, Punjab and Sindh Bank defeated Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) by 4-3 in the tie-breaker whereas Indian Oil Corporation beat Punjab Police by 2-0 in other excitement packed match.

While Indian Oil has made its way into the final in the tournament for the second successive year, the P&SB reached the summit clash after a gap of one year.

The P&SB were assertive from the beginning while rival BPCL players took time to charge. The bankmen succeeded in keeping the ball in the BPCL's half for most of the time in the first half but could not target well their moves and missed several chances to score.

This was evident from the fact that they were awarded three penalty corners in the first half but none could be capitalised.

BPCL which was a bit slow in the first half also earned a penalty corner in the 33rd minute but that was also wasted.

The second half began at stormy note with fast moves from both sides. However, the first chance came in the bankmen's way in the 38th minute on a penalty corner which was blocked by the rival defenders.

This brought penalty stroke for the bankers but their forward Rajwinder Singh could not direct well his shot which deflected out over the goal post.

Both teams continued their offensives against each other but they lacked accuracy and the match remained goal less in its scheduled time.

Penalty shootout rule was invoked to break the tie. P&SB scored four goals on five penalty strokes while BPCL could score only three.

Indian Oil Corporation also stormed into the finals by defeating Punjab Police 2-0 in a thrilling semifinal.

The match began at a sedate not but gradually both teams gain momentum. However, the Oilmen very more aggressive and fast during the first half of the match.

The last years runners up IOC team made several assaults at the rival D but the police team's defence line foiled their moves.

Punjab Police also made retaliatory attack in the 12th minute which earned them a penalty corner but drag flicker Jugraj Singh failed to avail the opportunity to score.

In the 26th minute IOC made an offensive at the rival D and police players tried to block the move. However, the move earned Oilmen a penalty stroke which was converted into goal by Bikramjit Singh(1-0).

In the second half both teams mounted pressure to tilt the game in their favour and made frequent attacks against each other. The IOC team got a penalty corner in the 43rd minute but that was wasted. In the 58th minute Punjab Police also got a chance to sound the rival board on a penalty corner but they missed.

Match was moving to end when Deepal Thakur took ball in the right flank and made no mistake in directing his bullet fast shot into the goal to give team 2-0 lead. This lead prevailed till the closure.

Meanwhile, amid moment of excitement and thrill, the match was marred by unpleasant instances of hot exhanges between umpire and winning IOC Captain Deepak Thakur.

In the 20th minute when the IOC players were at attack at the rival D umpire Suresh Bhatia accorded benefit of foul to police team but this made Deepak angry and the latter tried to push the umpire and indulged in argument.

Umpire Bhatia showed him yellow card and asked to go out for five minutes.

However, this annoyed the Oilmen and the whole of the team walked out. Later team management and organisers pacified the the players and sent them back to ground to resume the match. The Oilmen also expresed their dissatisfaction over umpires' decision on a couple of other occasions.

UNI SS AY PM1819