PSB, Tamil Nadu XI in final

CALCUTTA, APRIL 16. Defending champion Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) and Tamil Nadu XI set up the final clash for the Servo 105th Beighton Cup, winning their respective semifinal matches at the Mohun Bagan ground here on Sunday. The final will be played at the same venue tomorrow.

Continuing with the first semifinal that was postponed after seven minutes of play in the second session yesterday with Tamil Nadu and Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) locked 1-1, the former ensured its second entry into the Beighton final scoring through captain L. Prabhakaran who converted a penalty corner in the 52nd minute to have his team winning 2-1. Tamil Nadu's last final entry was in 1996 when it lost to Border Security Force (BSF), Jalandhar by a solitary goal.

The 28 minutes of play, that was brought forward today following yesterday's nor'wester leading to the postponement, had Tamil Nadu dominating the proceedings and found it easy against CLW which failed to regroup.

The Tamil Nadu halfline too looked efficient in distribution mainly for the good work done by Muthu Kumaran and Arun Kumar, while the seasoned international, Prabhakaran was impressive upfront. With 10 minutes remaining, CLW gained three penalty corners on the trot but could not get the equaliser owing to poor finishing.

In the unfinished encounter yesterday, Cedric D'Cruz had taken Tamil Nadu into the lead in the 13th minute, while CLW forward Sushil Minz had scored the equaliser in the 23rd minute.

The second semifinal between PSB and Army XI saw an even contest which the former won 1-0. For the reigning champion, PSB, this is also the second entry into the final and it remains to be seen how the Jalandhar team defends the crown it won defeating Army Supply Corps in the last edition.

In today's match the two Jalandhar teams began on a cautious note and it was Army which earned the initial leverage to keep the defending champion confined in its own territory for the most of the time in the first session.

The second session saw Army keep up the tempo and gain two consecutive penalty corners but the upright came in the way of former international, K.K. Poonacha's rasping shot that had beaten all the opposition guards. Next was the chance for PSB to try its luck earning its fourth penalty corner of the match and international Sandeep Singh Ghuman did not make any mistake in sounding the board with a cracking hit in the 47th minute to seal the fate of Army.

PSB, playing its second tournament on grass after it won the K.D. Singh Babu meet at Lucknow beating BSF 3-2 in the final last month, is confident of another triumph tomorrow. It now remains to be seen how the youthful South Zone champion, Tamil Nadu, prepares itself for the big match against an opposition full of internationals.

- Our Sports Reporter

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