Shamim’s Baig of tricks

Mumbai, July 31: Shamim Baig was the star performer for Central Railway against Bank of India. The wily spearhead slammed in all four fiel...

Mumbai, July 31: Shamim Baig was the star performer for Central Railway against Bank of India. The wily spearhead slammed in all four field goals, two of them gems and from acute angles, to enable Central crush the lukewarm opposition offered by the bankmen in a Bombay Hockey Association Super League clash at the Mahindra Stadium, on Monday.

In the other encounter of the same competition, Indian Navy whipped Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers with four second-half goals.

The Central-BoI match was one-sided. Central called the shots right through and after being contained goalless in the first-half, they fired on all cylinders and built-up a sizeable lead by scoring three goals in ten minutes, five minutes after the commencement of the second session.

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Baig’s goal-scoring spree began in the 40th minute. He first struck from a stray raid down the left flank. The striker beat a lone defender, drew out BoI goalkeeper Conan Fernandes and tapped into an untenanted goal.

Baig’s second goal, off a reverse hit, and the third, also from the right side of the circle, were breathtaking and gave goalkeeper Conon no chance whatsoever to effect saves. His fourth goal was scored with ease after Jamsher Khan had split the defence with a shallow digaonal from the centre to the right of the circle.

BoI came roaring back after they trailed 0-4 and at a time when the railwaymen had relaxed their pressure. They only succeeded in pulling a goal through Girish Pimple, who scored following a penalty-corner in the 59th minute.

Earlier in the evening, Navy came up with a splendid second-half display to trounce RCF. Manoj Lokhande, Ashok Kumar, Robert Bara and AU Haque scored in that order for the sailors.