<p>Deepak Thakur scored the decisive goal in the fourth quarter as Sher-e-Punjab kept perched on top with a close 2-1 victory over Mumbai Marines in their World Series Hockey match here on Wednesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Bikramkeet Singh scored the first goal for the hosts in the 11th minute on a penalty corner while M Hariprasad (40) scored the equaliser for his side. After squandering many a chance in the second and third quarters, Punjab adopted a cautious approach in the final quarter. <br /><br />Thakur then struck a brilliant field goal to give his side the lead, which they maintained till the end. Mumbai too got chances to comeback but could not convert those. <br /><br />Cheetahs have it easy<br /><br />In Chennai, Chennai Cheetahs scored an emphatic 4-1 victory over Bhopal Badshahs to register their third straight win on Tuesday. <br /><br />In all counts, it was a convincing win for the hosts as they controlled the game well and managed to gain nine penalty corners despite a strong defence and excellent saves from goalkeeper Baljit Singh. After Pakistani centre-half Waseem Ahmed drew the first blood in the third minute, countryman and ace drag flicker Syed Imran Warsi found the equaliser from their third penalty corner in the fifth minute. <br /><br />The second quarter proved to be barren as the teams enjoyed equal share of ball possession. In the third quarter, the main Cheetah’s player, Vikram Pillay successfully converted a penalty stroke in the 53rd minute when a Warsi drag flick brushed the left shoulder of a defender close to the left post and TV replays helped umpire to decide the verdict. <br /><br />In the 62nd minute, Adam Sinclair scored the third goal for Cheetahs and Vikam Pillay made it 4-1 in the 67th minute. Warsi has scored 15 goals in the tournament so far. <br /><br />Indian team feted<br /><br />In Lucknow, leading business conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar felicitated the Indian hockey team and its support staff by bestowing them with cash awards worth Rs one crore and 16 lakhs for their brilliant performance in FIH Olympic qualifiers on Wednesday. <br /></p>
<p>Deepak Thakur scored the decisive goal in the fourth quarter as Sher-e-Punjab kept perched on top with a close 2-1 victory over Mumbai Marines in their World Series Hockey match here on Wednesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Bikramkeet Singh scored the first goal for the hosts in the 11th minute on a penalty corner while M Hariprasad (40) scored the equaliser for his side. After squandering many a chance in the second and third quarters, Punjab adopted a cautious approach in the final quarter. <br /><br />Thakur then struck a brilliant field goal to give his side the lead, which they maintained till the end. Mumbai too got chances to comeback but could not convert those. <br /><br />Cheetahs have it easy<br /><br />In Chennai, Chennai Cheetahs scored an emphatic 4-1 victory over Bhopal Badshahs to register their third straight win on Tuesday. <br /><br />In all counts, it was a convincing win for the hosts as they controlled the game well and managed to gain nine penalty corners despite a strong defence and excellent saves from goalkeeper Baljit Singh. After Pakistani centre-half Waseem Ahmed drew the first blood in the third minute, countryman and ace drag flicker Syed Imran Warsi found the equaliser from their third penalty corner in the fifth minute. <br /><br />The second quarter proved to be barren as the teams enjoyed equal share of ball possession. In the third quarter, the main Cheetah’s player, Vikram Pillay successfully converted a penalty stroke in the 53rd minute when a Warsi drag flick brushed the left shoulder of a defender close to the left post and TV replays helped umpire to decide the verdict. <br /><br />In the 62nd minute, Adam Sinclair scored the third goal for Cheetahs and Vikam Pillay made it 4-1 in the 67th minute. Warsi has scored 15 goals in the tournament so far. <br /><br />Indian team feted<br /><br />In Lucknow, leading business conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar felicitated the Indian hockey team and its support staff by bestowing them with cash awards worth Rs one crore and 16 lakhs for their brilliant performance in FIH Olympic qualifiers on Wednesday. <br /></p>