GURGAON: Even after losing its last quarterfinal league match on Thursday, South Central Railway (SCR) managed to book a berth in the semifinals of the 20th Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey tournament.

In a Pool ‘B’ match at the Nehru Stadium here, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) banked on Karamjeet’s penalty corner conversion in the ninth minute to beat SCR 1-0.

Both sides finished their league engagements with four points apiece. However, SCR scraped through on the basis of better goal difference.

In an inconsequential Pool ‘A’ match, Bharat Petroleum rode on Amar Aiyamma’s brace (58th and 62nd) to pip Namdhari XI 4-3. Hari Prasad (8th) and Jarnail Singh (67th) also found the mark for the winning side.

Gurmail Singh (30th), Gurbhej Singh (68th) and Gurvinder Singh (69th) led the challenge for the Namdhari team.

In the semifinals to be played on Friday, Punjab National Bank will take on Army XI, while Air India will meet SCR.