ON FIRE: BPCL's Prabhdeep Singh (left) scored a brace against Indian Railways in the all-India MCC-Murugappa hockey tournament. — Photo: V. Ganesan

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CHENNAI: Namdhari XI and BPCL sealed their berths in the semifinals with identical victory margins in the all-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Friday.

Namdhari, making its maiden appearance in the championship, overcame IHF Development 2-1 on extra time while BPCL beat Indian Railways 2-1.

Namdhari players were imposing against a young development side. The defence of Namdhari XI is its biggest strength and the forwardline though not very agile is good enough to trouble any side at this level.

So dominant was Namdhari XI that a goal seemed imminent any time. Karamjit Singh's firm push from 30 yards was deflected off a defender and entered the goalpost.

For most part of the first half, IHF never looked like making a match out of it. Not a single worthwhile move was threaded.

Sunil, Sashikant and Sanwar Ali did make efforts in that direction, but those were few and far between.

Equaliser

Trailing by a goal, IHF Development finally decided to take the bull by its horns. Few minutes into the second session, IHF struck.

Sunil skilfully deflected a low cross from the right.

Enthused by the equaliser, IHF counter-attacked. Sunil was in the thick of things whenever a goal seemed possible.

Eight minutes for the hooter, Sanwar Ali skidded in front to push in a ball home off a long pass from Sunil.

Umpire Sanjay Bordae, who allowed the goal initially, reversed his decision after protest from Namdhari — who alleged that Sanwar had used his legs to push it home — in consultation with his colleague Pranam Singh.

In the extra time, Gurpreet Singh converted a penalty corner to signal his team's entry, a well deserved one, into the last four.

The contest between BPCL and Indian Railways was more or less evenly contested. Though BPCL palpably enjoyed more ball possession, Railways fought hard creating its own chances. It was a peach of a goal from Raju that put Railways ahead. He ran in from the extreme left of the circle and foxed the on-rushing goalkeeper Fekerlo by deftly putting the ball away from him, and scored while almost losing balance. Unfortunately, instead of Raju's name, Amit Srivas' found a mention in the team list given to the media.

BPCL with top players such as Tushar Kandekar, Hari Prasad and Sabu Varkey never let the momentum down. Ravi Naiker was brought down by goalkeeper Fekerlo and umpire Virendra Singh showed the spot. Prabhdeep Singh converted the stroke with a clean hit to the top of the roof. Exactly seven minutes after the equaliser, BPCL scored the winner through a stroke converted again by Prabhdeep Singh. Amarjit Singh's stick-check on Amar Aiyamma forced umpire Virendra to signal for the stroke.

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