Local outfit Indian Overseas Bank set up title clash with defending joint champions Indian Oil Corporation, Mumbai after thrashing Punjab National Bank 5-2 in the rain-affected second semi final of the 88th MCC-Muugappa Gold Cup Hockey tournament here tonight.
Earlier in the first semi-final IOC came from behind to beat Bharat Petroleum Limited 6-4 thanks mainly to superb display of penalty corner specialist Raghunath who capped with a quadruple of goals and Roshan Minz and Dharamveer Siingh scored a goal each.
BPCL was helped by Sher Singh (8th), Gurpreet Singh (21st), Pundalik Bellary (23rd) and Hari Prasad (53rd).
In total contrast, the second semi-final tie between IOB and PNB turned out to be a tame affair and rain also spoil sport forcing play to be stopped for 35 minutes when the match was 21 minutes old and IOB leading 1-0.
Earlier, IOC (Mumbai) came from behind to register a 6-4 victory over Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in the first semi-final earlier in the day.
Experienced and in-form V Raghunath exhibited his brilliance as he scored four goals for Indian Oil, including a a hat-trick in the second half. Roshan Minz and Dharamveer Singh were the other goal scorers for the winning team.
Sher Singh (8th), Gurpreet Singh (21st), Pundalik Bellary (23rd) and Hari Prasad (53rd) netted the ball for BPCL.
Playing the first semi-final tie against the arch-rivals Indian Oil, who had maintained a clear slate in the league phase, failed to get into the rhythm in the first half and were trailing 1-3 at the break.
BPCL took the lead in the fourth minute when Sher Singh made good use of a cross by Jarnail Singh to net the ball.
The Indian Oil, meanwhile, wasted two hard earned penalty corners.
