IOC, PNB win in Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tourney

V Raghunath converted three penalty corners in the second-half to help Indian Oil Corporation beat Indian Overseas Bank 3-1 in their pool A match of the 88th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament, here today.
After V Shanmugam's 23rd minute goal put IOB ahead, India star and penalty corner specialist Raghunath came up with a fine hat-trick to enable Indian Oil, the joint winners of 2012 edition, log home full points.
In another pool A match, Punjab National Bank notched up a hard-fought 2-1 win over fancied Bharat Petroleum. Jalwinder struck twice in 28th and 36th minute to give his side a comfortable lead only to see a late fightback by BPCL for whom Amar Aiyamma found the back of the net in the 63rd minute.

In Pool B, SAIL, Rourkela comfortably defeated last year's joint winners Air India 5-2. Felix Baa struck in the 13th minute to put SAIL ahead but Air India struck twice through Somanna Pradhan (29th) and Sameer Dad (31st) to take a 2-1 lead at half-time.
SAIL stepped up the pace in the second half as Baa scored in the 39th to draw parity before Rajin Kandulna (42nd, 67th) and Deepak Kullu (62nd) swelled the scoreline.