Already assured of a place in the semifinals, defending champions Delhi Waveriders and Uttar Pradesh Wizards played out a 3-3 draw in their final league game of the Hero Hockey India League (HIL), here today.
VR Ragunath (20th minute, 53rd) converted two penalty corners for the Wizards while the other goal came from a field effort from Jeroen Hertzberger (34th).
For the Waveriders Andrew Hayward (45th) scored from a set piece while Australian Matt Gohdes (51st) and Kiwi Simon Child (52nd) scored two field goals.
Uttar Pradesh Wizards finished their league engagements with 32 points from 10 matches, the Waveriders accumulated 25 points from the same number of games.
Playing in front of home crowd, the Waveriders started on a bright note as just five minutes into the game the hosts got their first penalty corner but Rupinderpal Singh's effort was saved by wizards goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
The Waveriders were again at the thick of things when Gurwinder Chandi's shot from skipper Sardar Singh's pass was brilliantly kept away by Sreejesh.
Seconds from the end of the first quarter, the Wizards earned their first penalty corner but failed to capitalise on the chance as both the teams failed to break the deadlock after the opening 15 minutes.
Five minutes into the second quarter, the Wizards won their second penalty corner of the match and this time Raghunath made no mistake to give the visitors the lead.
Pegged by the goal, the Wizards continued to dominate the and kept the pressure on the Waveriders with relentless attacks.
The Wizards doubled their lead in the third quarter through Hertzberger who guided in a Pardeep Mor pass from the right flank.
Down 0-2, the Waveriders pressed hard for goals and managed to score thrice in a span of seven minutes to take the upperhand hand in the match.
The Wavriders managed to pull one back in the 45th minute through a penalty corner conversion from Hayward to go into the fourth and final quarter trailing 1-2.
The Waveriders managed to equalise in the 51st minute through Ghodes, who scored a superb field goal after getting past two defenders and rival goalkeeper Sreejesh.
The Waveriders took the lead in the very next minute when Child scored a brilliant field goal.
In the very next move, the Wizards managed to draw level when Raghunath converted his second penalty corner of the day.;
Thereafter, both the teams tried hard for the winners but it was not to come.
