Punjab and Sind Bank, PNB in final

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Punjab and Sind Bank kept its flurry of goals alive to make their stupendous foray into the final with the Punjab National Bank(PNB), Delhi, who fought a cliff hanger with the BSF but won a tiebreaker by 5-4 to enter the final of the 5th All-India Independence Cup Hockey Tournament at Paddal Maidan here today.

The attacking top-seeders of the PSB gave no time for recovery for the meek-looking Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). In a one-sided match, the PSB outplayed the CISF defeating them by 6-0.

The PSB featured top international players and they came up their reputation punching six goals into the target. But it was no lucky day for PSB’s Kulvinder as he scored record four goals in the match, but he missed his hattrick.

The PSB attackers stunned the CISF poor defence line throughout the match. Kulvinder scored the first goal in the 4th minute, scored the quick second goal in the 7th minute and was on his way of scoring the hattrick but it was Harvir Singh who converted the penalty corner in the 26th minute of the game.

PSB’s flurry of goals continued in the second half. It was Kulivinder again who stole the show. In a brisk attack Diler Singh scored fourth goal in the 30th minute.

The second semi-final match did not breath any fire plays and was a thrilling cliff-hanger. Both BSF and PNB were pitted on an even field as both teams have no internationals on their sides.

The PNB were awarded three penalty corners while the BSF got four. But both failed to convert and match ended in a draw 0-0. But then came the tie-breaker. The lady luck smiled on PNB’s side while the BSF faced a “rough border of the PNB goal keeper”. They missed a plenty shooter while the PNB scored all five and won in the tie-breaker by 5-4.