Crescent Club, Sialkot edge out Namdhari-XI in Surjit hockey

Jalandhar, Octr 22 (UNI) Star-studded Crescent Hockey Club, Sialkot (Pakistan) edged out the spirited Namdhari-XI 4-3 to earn full points in the Indian Oil Servo Silver Jubilee Surjt Hockey Tournament at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.

In another Pool 'A' league match, Independent Hockey Club, Sargodha (Pakistan) held local outfit Border Security Force to a 2-2 draw.

In a Pool 'D' league match, the Namdhari-XI deserve full credit for matching upto the Crescent Hockey Club, packed to 10 international players which included Farhan Asif, Amair Saleem, Ateeq, Mohammad Tofeeq Shabir, Akhtar Ali and Imran Butt.

In only the 3rd minute of the game, the Pakistani team shot into the lead when Adeel Akram converted a penalty corner (1-0). After trailing by a goal, Namdhari boys mounted pressure on the Pak team and got the equaliser in the 13th minute of the game through penalty corner converted by Gurwinder Singh (1-1).

In the 19th minute of the game the Namdhari boys went into the lead when Gurmail Singh scored a field goal (2-1). At half time Namdhari lads were leading by 2-1.

After changing over, the Pakistani team launched an attack from the right flank and earned their 5th penalty corner. Skipper of Sialkot team, deep defender Amir Saleem converted the penalty corner to equalise the score (2-2).

The Sialkot boys continued their attacks and again took the lead in the 40th minute of the game with their skipper Amir Saleem convertint yet another penalty corner (3-2). However the Namdhari boys did not give up and in the 50th minute Gurwinder Singh scored a a field goal to equalise (3-3).

However in the 65th minute of the game the team from across the border scored through Mohd Atif off a pass from Abu Baker to clinch the match.

The other match between Independent Hockey Club, Sargodha and BSF, Jalandhar, the securitymen took the lead in the 14th minute of the game when their skipper Peter Tirky score a field goal. The securitymen were leading 1-0 at half time.

After the break, the Saogodha boys got the equaliser in the 44th minute and Nazim Sheikh was the scorer (1-1). In the very next minute of the game the Pak team was awarded a penalty stroke and Shafqat Rasool made no mistake to put his team ahead (2-1).

The local outfit managed to equalise in the 56th minute when Ajmal Khan scored a field goal.

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