PSB in Beighton Cup semi-finals

Defending champions Punjab and Sindh Bank stormed into the semi-finals of the 106th All India Beighton Cup hockey tournament, defeating Bangladesh XI 3-0, in Calcutta, on Thursday.

India international Baljit Singh Saini struck a brace while Parminder Singh scored once for the winners in the one-sided pool A quarter final league match.

In another match in the same pool, CESC got past Sports Authority of India 2-1 to keep alive their chances of making it to the last four.

PSB, who thrashed CESC 4-0 in their inaugural pool exchange, created havoc in the opposition ranks in the opening moments and went ahead in the fourth minute when Saini sounded the board from a goalmouth melee.

The bankmen consolidated their position in the 17th minute as Saini again found the target with an angular hit following a Parminder Singh forward pass.

The Bangaldeshi team, unaccustomed to playing on grass, tried to find their bearings in the second half, but the PSB deep defenders Rajinder Singh and Sharanjeet Singh stood firm.

The formidable Punjab side increased the margin in the 50th minute as following a hit-in taken by Saini, Parminder Singh trapped in style and then flicked in.

The other match saw CESC drawing first blood in the 11th minute as Anil Ekka converted a penalty corner.

PSB again struck two minutes after the breather through Sunil Soren, before Atal Tirkey reduced the lead in the 47th minute with a field strike.