HHIL 2014: Skipper Ragunath's hat-trick, UP Wizards second consecutive win

Captain VR Raghunath led from the front and slammed a hat-trick to help Uttar Pradesh Wizards continue their unbeaten run in the tournament. Uttar Pradesh Wizards came from behind 5-3 to register a win over Dabur Mumbai Magicians in a round-robin league match of the second edition of Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium in Mumbai today.

After failing to seize their opportunities in the first two quarters, the Uttar Pradesh Wizards took control of the game after halftime and pumped in as many as four goals to make a stunning comeback in the game.

The match started on a slow pace as both the sides struggled to get their footing initially. Dabur Mumbai Magicians, however, seized the first real opportunity that came their way through Gurjinder Singh (12^th minute) who scored from their first penalty corner.

The Uttar Pradesh Wizards responded quickly and managed to earn two penalty corners in succession, the second of which resulted in a penalty stroke but the home team goalkeeper P R Sreejesh came up with a brilliant save with his stick to keep a clean slate for his side in the opening quarter.

Dabur Mumbai Magicians added salt to Uttar Pradesh Wizards’ wounds when Australian Glenn Turner converted another penalty corner in the 18^th minute to take a 2-0 lead.

Uttar Pradesh Wizards took the lead for the first time in the game through Siddharth Shanker’s (52^nd) field goal before Raghunath (56^rth minute)converted yet another penalty corner to register his first hat-trick in HHIL 2014.

With Uttar Pradesh Wizards on full flow the Dabur Mumbai Magicians defense looked at sea in the last two quarters of the match. Dabur Mumbai Magicians’ Sarvanjit Singh (57th minute) scored off a rebound after Gurjinder got the initial touch to add another goal to the home team's kitty. But the visitors further extended their lead in the 59^th minute when SK Uthappa deflected home to register his name in the score sheet.

The win, their second on the trot in the tournament, propelled Uttar Pradesh Wizards to the second position in the points table with 10 points from two games.

Dabur Mumbai Magicians, on the other hand, slumped to their second straight defeat in the tournament and are currently lying at the second last position in the six-team event with just two points.