Kalinga Lancers hold Jaypee Punjab Warriors to a 3-3 draw

Mohali: Debutants Kalinga Lancers dished out a spirited performance to hold Jaypee Punjab Warriors to a 3-3 draw to collect two points from a hard-fought league match of the second edition of Hockey India League (HHIL) on Tuesday.

Kalinga Lancers scored through Gagandeep Singh (10th minute), Mandeep Antil (26th) and Ryan Archibald (41st) while Christopher Ciriello (18th), Jake Whetton (22nd) and Simon Orchard (50th) found the target for the Punjab side.

Both the teams started cautiously as they seemed in no mood to give initial openings to the other.

The Lancers surged ahead in the 10th minute when Gagandeep Singh scored a field goal to the left of Warriors goalkeeper Bharat Chetri after being fed from the right flank.

The Warriors, however, did not sit back and pressed hard in search of the equalizer and in the process earned two penalty corners in succession, the second of which was converted by Australian Christopher Ciriello in the 18th minute to level the scores.

The Warriors secured another penalty corner at the start of the second quarter but ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh's try went wide.

Jake Whetton (22nd minute) scored from close range after Lancers custodian Harjot Singh saved the first attempt to help Warriors take the lead for the first time in the match.

The Lancers pumped in two field goals in the second and third quarter respectively to stun the Warriors for the second time in the game.

First Mandeep Antil scored in the 26th minute with a field strike from top of the circle before Ryan Archibald (41st minute) struck to take a 3-2 lead.

The Warriors, however, dominated the proceedings and earned two more penalty corners in quick time but wasted both the opportunities.

Lancers goalie Harjot Singh had a busy day in office as he stretched to his left leg to deny Dharamvir Singh's strong forehand shot to keep his side's lead intact.

But Simon Orchard saved the day for the Warriors and scored the all-important equaliser in the 50th minute with a beautiful field goal.

The Warriors garnered two points from the draw and consolidated their second position in the league standings with 25 points from seven games, while the Lancers have moved to 10 points from seven outings.

The Lancers will next host Uttar Pradesh Wizards at Bhubaneswar on Thursday, while Jaypee Punjab Warriors will take on UP Wizards in their next game here on Saturday.