Though BPCL struck two goals in space of two minutes early on, KSP fought back and kept their fancied opponents on their toes in the lively encounter.
 Centre forward Amar Aiyamma BPCL’s account in the 10th minute when right-out Pundlik set up for the goal. Shortly, BPCL landed another blow when Prabdeep Singh’s long hit from the centre-line was smartly deflected in by Pundlik. Both teams exchanged forays continuously and BPCL were more threatening with their rapid counter-moves.
Ex-international Sabu Verkey caught everyone’s eye for BPCL as the 36-year-old defied his age with some speedy runs and splendid dribbles on the right. On the other hand, KSP did well in the midfield but most of their moves ended prematurely inside the shooting circle.
Stunning deflection
In the 24th minute, BPCL players were unhappy when umpire Raghuprasad disallowed an apparently stunning deflection by Aiyamma. KSP rubbed salt into the BPCL wound by reducing the deficit through Umesh Mutegar in the very next minute.
Neck-to-neck battle ensued but BPCL turned the tables with a penalty corner conversion by Gurpreet Singh. KSP tried hard for a comeback and even scored their second goal with a neat hit by Motilal V Rathod in the 57th minute, but BPCL walked away with the match, however after surviving a  tough scare.
Earlier, a controversial 58th minute strike by Kamlesh Parihar earned IOCL a hard-fought 2-1 win over Canara Bank. In the 47th minute, Deedar Singh cancelled out K P Dinesh’s strike ten minutes earlier but when Inderjit Chadda’s set up for Parihar goal, bankmen protested umpire Hardeep Singh’s decision arguing that Chadda had deployed the forehand edge of the stick.
Other result:  Army Red: 3 (Eliazer Lakra 4th, 7th, Chittranjan Singh 54th) bt Fortis: 2 (Bharath K K 35th, Brojen Singh 40th).