Punjab XI outclass WR

New Delhi, January 2: Tahir Zaman’s arrival created as much excitement on the pitch as off it. The star Pakistani forward got into the rhythm straightaway, providing the cutting edge to the Punjab XI forward line, which missed several opportunities and yet managed to blank Western Railway 3-0 in the semi-final of the all-India Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium here today.

Punjab XI went ahead through a Babur Abdullah strike, while Shabaz made it 2-0. Zaman combined well with Mohammed Sarwar on the right and latched on to pass from the latter late in second session, to find the roof of the net (3-0).

In the second semi-final, Northern Railway beat BSF 3-2. The railwaymen drew first blood with KV Singh scored on a pass from Parmod Kumar. BSF equalised through Habil Topno.

Manmeet Singh and Daud Suleman gave their team a 3-1 lead. BSF pulled back one in the dying minutes through Shinu Herenz, but the fightback had come a trifle late.