BPCL, Army XI advance to semis

Chennai: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and former champions, Army XI progressed to the semi-finals of the 85th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here today. BPCL defeated Indian Overseas Bank 2-0 in Group-B, while Army scored a 3-1 win over Mumbai XI in Group-A. This was BPCL`s third win in as many matches for nine points like the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and their clash tomorrow in the league phase tomorrow will decide the group topper. Army has finished second in Group A behind Indian Oil Corporation with 12 points. BPCL went into the lead in the fourth minute through Ravi Pal Singh and Pradheep Singh made it 2-0 with a penalty corner conversion in the 53rd minute. Ignace Tirkey, Mundu and Rajesh Lakra netted for the Army XI, while Mumbai, who led 1-0, was helped by Tyron Pereira. Later, in an inconsequential pool A match, Karnataka held the defending champions Air India to a 3-3 draw . With this Karnataka earned their second point in four matches and joined Air India (four points) in exiting from the tournament. Naveen Shekar, Mudappa (two goals--16th and 47th) scored for Karnataka while Air India was assisted by Bimal Lakra (33rd), Vinod Pillay (47th) and Ajmer Singh (68th, penalty stroke). Bureau Report