PSB down Indian Airlines

A splendid performance by man of the match Parminder Singh helped Punjab and Sind Bank score a 4-3 victory over Indian Airlines in the Super League stage of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh hockey tournament in Delhi on Friday.

The Punjab team rallied twice after conceding the lead, the first goal in the very first minute, to beat Airlines in an exciting match that was level at 2-2 at the break.

In another match, Punjab Police blanked Sapura Hockey Club from Malaysia 3-0.

It was Ravinder who opened the scoring for Airlines through a field goal even before the PSB players were off the blocks at the Shivaji stadium. PSB equalised in the fifth minute when Navpreet Singh converted a penalty stroke.

After a brief phase when both teams saw their attacks repulsed by alert defenders, Airlines went 2-1 up in the 23rd minute as Arjun Halappa sounded the board with an indirect penalty-corner conversion.

Airlines' lead again lasted for a few minutes before Baljit Singh Saini scored off a penalty-corner.

The change of ends also changed the bank's luck as they scored twice before the hour mark to take a commanding 4-2 lead.

The third goal in the 40th minute was credited to Parminder Singh while Mandeep Singh scored the insurance goal in the 59th minute.

Though Airlines reduced the margin through Bimal Lakra six minutes before close, PSB held on to walk away with full points.