Spirited Ranchi snatch a point

Ranchi, Jan. 26: A spirited Ranchi Rays overcame a two-goal deficit to hold defending champions Delhi Waveriders to a 2-2 draw in a league match of the Hockey India League-3, here on Monday.

The draw took the Rays to seven points from three games. After going down 36 to Kalinga Lancers in the tournament opener, the Ashley Jackson-led side defeated Dabang Mumbai 2-1 in their previous match.

The Waveriders, on the other hand, have garnered four points so far, having registered their second consecutive draw in the tournament.

Akashdeep Singh’s strike in the fourth minute handed Waveriders an early lead before Danish Mujtaba doubled the scoreline in the 27th minute from a penalty corner.

The Waveriders kept up the pressure on the Ranchi defence and earned three penalty corners in quick succession late in the second quarter — the third of which was converted by Mujtaba with a rebound after home team goalkeeper Lovell Tyler made a great save.

But a minute later, Nick Budgeon (28th) scored with a fierce drag-flick from a penalty corner to pull one back for the Rays just at the stroke of half time.

The Rays came out with more purpose after the change of ends and drew parity five minutes into the third quarter through Mandeep Singh (35th), who scored with a deflection. PUNJAB DOWN UTTAR PRADESH Punjab Warriors zoomed to the top of the table, with their second consecutive win at home. On the day, they quelled a strong challenge from Uttar Pradesh Wizards posting a 3-2 win.

UP skipper V.R. Raghunath opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but Punjab made a strong comeback. Varun Kumar fetched home the equaliser five minutes later and the hosts consolidated from there on in the match.

— Agencies