Indian Oil, Punjab National Bank to play in Beighton Cup hockey final

Defending champions Indian Oil Corporation will take on Punjab National Bank on Sunday in the 120th All India Beighton Cup hockey tournament, in a replay of last year's summit clash.

The Oil men thrashed Army XIA 5-1, while PNB twice came back from behind to pip Central Railway 3-2 in the semi-finals at the SAI ground here on Saturday.

For IOC, Deepak Thakur scored a brace (18th min and 58th min), and Roshan Minz (21st min), Prabhjot Singh (59th min) and Gagandeep Singh (69th min) struck one apiece in the one-sided contest. Ansulin Embrom was the lone goal getter for the army side.

In the other semi-final contest, Central Railway went ahead in the third minute through Nizam Mohd, but PNB's Damandeep Singh equalised in the eighth minute.

The railway men again seized the lead in the 14th minute as Affan Yousuf found the target.

The scoreline remained 2-1 at the breather.

However, PNB began with renewed vigour in the second session, and restored parity in the 40th minute, with Jugraj Singh putting the ball home.

Fifteen minutes later, Damandeep got the winner and his second goal of the match.