WSH: Marines draw with Wizards to go top

Mumbai: Mumbai Marines and Delhi Wizards on Sunday played out a 2-2 draw in the World Series Hockey here, pitchforking the former into the joint lead with Sher-E-Punjab and Bhopal Badshahs.

The Marines came from a goal behind to take the lead before the Wizards got the equaliser at the fag end of the match to share points and take their points tally to seven from six games.

The result left Marines, Punjab and Badshahs tied with ten points each after six games apiece.

Both the goals for the Wizards were notched by their drag-flicker Vikramjeet Singh, in the 12th and 67th minutes off their first and third and final penalty corners.

For Marines, Devinder Walmiki struck a penalty corner goal in the 25th minute to bring them on level terms before a fine field goal by Sandeep Michael in the 45th put them 2-1 ahead before Wizards drew level with three minutes to go.

Barring the opening quarter, when the Wizards had the upper hand and also took the lead in the 12th minute, it was the Marines who held sway after getting the equaliser in the 25th minute.

Wizards went 1-0 up off their first penalty corner award, the drag-flick by Vikramjeet high to the left of Adrian D'Souza completely foxing the international custodian.

The game had started on a rousing note with the Marines going on the attack through a quick move down the left flank but it came to nought when the cross from Hariprasad was cut off before it could reach Joga Singh, the home team's leading goal-getter in the tournament.

At the other end the tall Philip Sunkel fed Gurpreet Singh on the left, but the latter's powerful reverse hit sailed harmlessly past the far post.

The Wizards started controlling the proceedings and forced the penalty corner through which they went 1-0 ahead.

The Delhi team could have gone further ahead when a dazzling 1-2 between Rajpal Singh and Mathias Minz resulted in the former shooting just wide of the target.

The second quarter saw the Marines coming back into play with some concerted moves. A thrust down the middle saw Banmali Xess miss from close range soon after resumption.

The Wizards' Sanjiv Ajnani was shown the green card for rough play before the Marines secured the equaliser through Walmiki in the 25th minute. The powerful drag-flick off their first penalty corner beating rival custodian Mrinal Choubey all ends up to his right.

Joga Singh then muffed a sitter in a one-on-one situation with Choubey with no rival defender challenging him. He earned the third penalty corner for his side which came to nought just before the half time signal and the teams went in at half-time on level terms (1-1).

The Marines, with some fine midfield play by Troy Sutherland and Walmiki, took the lead for the first time in the game in the 45th minute (third quarter).

A move down the left wing saw goalkeeper Choubey dragged out of his charge and lose his stick and when he lay sprawled on the turf, Anup Anthony flicked the ball to an unmarked Sandeep Michael who gleefully volleyed the ball. The third quarter ended with the home team leading 2-1.

Though Marines kept the attacking reins, it was Wizards who levelled the scores fours minutes from the end when Vikramjeet outfoxed Marines skipper and custodian D'Souza with a drag-flick to the latter's left.

The Marines next clash with Sher-e-Punjab here on March 14 while the Wizards take on Chennai Cheetahs on the same day.