JOIN USSkipper Siraju A P struck a brace as Army XI, Bangalore, routed a star-studded Indian Oil Corporation Ltd 4-1 in the 2nd Bengaluru Super Division hockey league here at the hockey stadium on Wednesday.
Against a solid IOCL outfit featuring V R Raghunath, S K Uthappa, Vikram Kanth, Talwinder Singh, Affan Yousuf, Deepak Thakur, a determined Army XI made the first breakthrough in the 34th minute through Vishwa Thakur's field goal.
The Army men doubled the tally in the 40th minute through a penalty corner which Siraju converted successfully. They further consolidated their advantage through another field goal -- this time by Vishal Thakur -- that took their lead to a comfortable 3-0 at the 60th minute.
Affan Yousuf pulled one back for IOCL in the 64th minute but the effort was too little and perhaps too late. Army XI eventually romped home 4-1 as Siraju scored his second goal through another penalty corner in the 67th minute.
Pawan Lakra of Army XI was adjudged the man of the match.
In the second match, Punjab National Bank rallied splendidly in the final eight minutes to overcome a 3-1 deficit and hold Indian Navy, Delhi, 3-3.
While PNB took an early lead through Sanjay in the ninth minute, Navy scored an equaliser in the 35th minute through Mohit Singh.
Navy then netted another two in the 39th and 56th minutes through Ajinkya Jadhav and Ved Parkash Bhatt to enhance their winning chances. However, PNB scored two goals in as many minutes (69th and 70th) through Shamsher Singh to split points.
Goalkeeper Raydan Tidu of Indian Navy was the man of the match.