CHENNAI CHEETAHS CONJURES UP A SUPER WIN
>br>From S Thyagarajan

In a nail biting contest in which the fortunes swung from side to side like pendulum Chennai Cheetahs recovered from a 1-3 deficit to end the day with honours with a 6-4triumph against Delhi Wizards in the World Series of Hockey (WSH) here on Wednesday.

The outcome, which enhanced Chennai’s total to 19 points from 13 matches, gives another lease of life to put up a fight for a place in the semi-final. This was probably the best encounter that the Chennai outfit had played on the home turf, much to the delight of the spectators.

It would be invidious to pinpoint an individual in the Chennai but if it is a compulsion then the honour should go Adam Sinclair, for the two spectacular goals he netted, and the all round display by Vikram Pillay and, of course, to the darling of the crowd, Imran Warsi for the two penalty corners that he converted to bring the parity at 3-3.

For the Delhi team, the hero was, indisputably, the penalty corner striker, Vikramjit Singh, who hit in a four in a row.

It appeared at one point that the Chennai team was near the exit door to the semi-finals. But the match swung into life in the third quarter. In a rare display of spirit, speed and skill, the Chennai squad turned the tables on the rival which was leading three one on the strength of the hat-trick performed by Vikramjit Singh.

Delhi had everything its way thanks to the quick moves engineered by Germany’s Sunkel from the mid-field. Both the seasoned forwards, Rajpal Singh and the Pakistani, Shakeel Abbasi, carried forward a series of moves to puncture the Chennai defence. Vikramjit luxuriated in the penalty corners.

Chennai’s recovery was led by Veeraswamy Raja, who scored a peach of a goal from a cross by Vikas Sharma for the equaliser in the first quarter. But the attack continued to be listless for the major part of the second quarter notwithstanding splendid work by Vikram Pillay. Delhi netted two goals in the second quarter to lead 3-1.

The complexion of the contest underwent a dramatic change in the third when Chennai began to exert pressure. Five penalty corners surfaced during this period. The fierce shots by Imran Warsi were saved with assurance by goal-keeper Kamaldeep Singh but Imran had the last laugh pumping in two to the roof of the net. The teams were on par at 3-3 as the final quarter got under way.

Initially, Delhi held the whip hand earning two penalty corners. Vikramjit’s first attempt was stopped neatly on the goal line by Vikram Pillay. The Delhi striker was unlucky in the next when the ball crashed against the cross piece and spun into play.

In a desperate effort to shift the pressure, Chennai surged into the attack Adam Sinclair touched brilliant form at this point. He hoisted the lead (4-3) with a lovely deflection from the right. Vikram Pillay followed suit within a minute netting the fifth even as Adam Sinclair capped a superb solo run to slam the sixth goal.

Before the final whistle, Delhi narrowed the lead, Vikramjit netting his fourth in the match. But what a tumble for a team that looked like conquering everything before it.

The result: Chennai Cheetahs 6 (Veeraswamy Raja, Imran Warsi 2, Adam Sinclair 2,)beat Delhi Wizards 4 ( Vikramjit Singh 4)

Tomorrow’s matches: Chandigarh Comets v Karnataka Lions (7 p.m.); Chandigarh; Bhopal
Badshahs v Pune Strykers (9 p.m.) Bhopal.