HIL: Ranchi Rays rally to hold Delhi Waveriders 2-2

Ranchi Rays came from two goals behind to hold defending champions Delhi Waveriders 2-2 in a Hero Hockey India League encounter at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium here Monday.

Waveriders took the 2-0 lead through Akashdeep Singh (third minute) and Danish Mujtaba (27th) before the hosts got their goals from Australian Nick Budgeon (30th) and Mandeep Singh (36th).

Sardar Singh-led side Waveriders looked the better side from the beginning, looking more organised in the midfield and the defence.

Their attack also did the job and they got the lead in the third minute with a coordinated act from New Zealander striker Simon Child, who supplied the ball for Akashdeep Singh. And the young Indian international scored from a melee.

Ranchi also had their moments and got two penalty corners but they failed to convert them in the first and second quarter, when Rays skipper Ashley Jackson's penalty corner flick hit the post

Delhi made it 2-0 in the 27th minute as Mujtaba sounded the board with a field goal in the 27th minute.

However, urged on by the home crowd Ranchi came roaring back and made it 1-2 with a penalty corner conversion. Young Budgeon, who came into the side in place of German skipper Moritz Furste, employed a scorching grounder in the final minute of the second quarter.

Six minutes into the third quarter, Mandeep deflected a ball in from a close range to level the scores 2-2.

Afterwards, both the teams got many opportunities but failed to make most of them.

This meant, Delhi played their second draw in as many matches while the hosts got their first draw after winning and losing one matches.