Cyril Ekka's hat-trick helped Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Chandigarh, beat giant-killers Bhopal XI 3-0 and score their first win in the quarter-final league of the 41st Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament at the Mahindra stadium on Wednesday.
Despite the win CISF could not make it to the semi-finals as Indian Oil and Karnataka XI had already made the grade.
In the second match of the day, Indian Oil pipped Karnataka XI 2-1, after being tied 1-1 at lemon time, to top Pool 'A'.
CISF took the lead in the 25th minute when Ekka converted a penalty-stroke. The stroke was awarded after Bhopal defender Mansoor Ali stopped a goal bound ball with his foot.
With two minutes to go for half-time Ekka increased the lead off an S K Kiro cross and with eleven minutes to go for the final whistle he rounded off the tally with yet another field goal.
CISF, who outplayed Bhopal XI in all departments of the game, forced just three penalty-corners while Bhopal forced five.
From Pool 'B', star-studded Indian Airlines made it to the last four stage yesterday with two wins.
In the second match of the afternoon, Indian Oil surged ahead in the 12th minute through Prabhojot Singh's field goal. But eight minutes later, Karnataka equalised when their centre-forward Ajay Aiyappa flicked home Laxman Rao's pass.
However, seven minutes after the breather Prabhojot Singh scored again when he converted the second penalty-corner to clinch the issue.
With just four minutes to go for the final whistle, Karnataka forced a penalty stroke but defender Arun Rawat failed to score.
Tomorrow: Sikh Regiment vs EME, Jalandhar; Indian Airlines vs Western Railway [concluding quarter-final league matches].
PTI
