Nicholas Bandurak drew first blood for Kalinga Lancers.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
Thierry Brinkman struck a magnificent brace as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers decimated Delhi SG Pipers 5-1 in the Hockey India League at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.
Lancers’ third win improved their position to the third spot, while Pipers, who wasted 11 penalty corners, continued to languish at the bottom after their sixth successive defeat.
Pipers showed promise with 10 circle entries in the opening period before flattering to deceive.
Lancers, who penetrated the ‘D’ four times, went up in the 11th minute. Briton Nicholas Bandurak dashed into the circle and unleashed a shot before spectacularly scoring off the rebound.
Pipers moved the ball well on both flanks and kept the Lancers under pressure with more raids. In the closing moments of the second quarter, Jake Whetton’s long pass could not be utilised by Iktidar Ishrat as Pipers struggled with their finishing.
Pipers continued to press and secured three more penalty corners close to the half-time, but could not put it past the vigilant Krishan Pathak.
Lancers made good use of the counter-attacks to grab the momentum by getting four goals within nine minutes of the third quarter even as Pipers missed the services of Jarmanpreet Singh at the back.
The Belgian pair of Alex Hendrickx and Arthur van Doren combined well to convert a short corner through a variation as the latter deflected in the former’s accurate flick.
Brinkman stole the ball from Varun Kumar and went in to slot it in. Minutes later, with goalkeeper Pawan grounded, he pounced on another loose ball to score his second.
Gursahibjit Singh tapped in a cross from the right to make it 5-0.
Corey Weyer’s reverse hit following a solo run reduced the margin in the final quarter.
Women’s matches
The women’s league will make its first appearance here on Friday with Pipers taking on JSW Soorma Hockey Club. Odisha Warriors will meet Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in the other women’s match scheduled here on Sunday.
The result: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 5 (Bandurak 11, van Doren 36, Brinkman 38, 43, Gursahibjit 45) bt Delhi SG Pipers 1 (Weyer 46).
Published – January 16, 2025 11:13 pm IST
