Chandigarh Dynamos win in PHL

Chandigarh:

Hyderabad Sultans trounced Sher-e-Jalandhar while home side Chandigarh Dynamos notched up their second victory in the fourth Premier Hockey League (PHL) at the Sector 42 Stadium.

Hyderabad, riding on a brace by Pawal Lakra and a late strike by Diwakar Ram, defeated Jalandhar 3-0. In the other match, Prabjot Singh scored a brace as favourites Dynamos defeated Orissa Steelers 2-0.

The Jalandhar side failed to combine well and their forwards were rather disjointed. Though Hyderabad had the better of exchanges, they were unable to convert them. Even the two penalty corners they earned were wasted.

In the second quarter, a free hit from just outside the top of the circle saw skipper Sardara Singh finding Pramod Kumar on the left flank and the winger sent a swift cross into the goalmouth for Didar Singh appeared to deflect the ball in. Umpire VB Singh awarded the goal.

But Jalandhar protested and the decision was referred to the TV umpire who overruled it and disallowed the goal. Soon after Jalandhar were reduced to 10 men when Mandeep Singh was sent out for assaulting Adnan Maqsood of Pakistan.

Eight minutes into the third quarter, Sultans forged ahead from a brilliant field goal from the right flank. Put in by Nitin Kumar, Bikas Toppo entered the circle and gave a short pass to Lakra who found the target with ease.

In the 59th minute, Sultans increased the tally through another field goal. Saradara Singh gained the ball in the midfield and went on a solo till the 25-yardline past a couple of defenders and relayed it to the right to his brother Didar Singh.

Didar cut into the circle and took a shot but Jalandhar custodian Salman Akbar blocked the ball. He fumbled with his clearance and the ball rolled from below his pads towards the post. Lakra snatched the chance and tapped home.

With five minutes for the end, Bikas Toppo earned Hyderabad's fifth penalty corner. Sardara sent in the push and Nitin set it up perfectly for Diwakar Ram, whose low flick into the boards saw rival goalie stranded.

Later in the day, Dynamos took the lead in the third minute following a counter attack. Inderjit Singh Chadha initiated a move in the midfield and combined with Deepak Thakur, who relayed it to Rajpal on the left. Rajpal sent a stinging hit into the circle and just in front of the goalkeeper Prabjot stretched his stick to deflect the ball into the net.

Thereafter, Orissa raised the tempo of the game and created some good moves upfront but failed to find the equalizer.

Seconds before the end of the third quarter, Orissa suffered another blow as Chandigarh Dynamos knocked in a freak goal to increase the lead. After Rajpal and Deepak Thakur exchanged passes, Jaswinder sent a weak shot into the circle and with Orissa custodian Gurpreet Singh about to clear it, Prabjot managed to beat him to strike home.

Orissa tried hard and had more of the ball possession but their numerous raids went in vain. All they could show for their hard work were two wasted short corners and they lost their second match.