Hockey: Army XI, PSB book semi-final slots

India Army XI in action

Chennai, July 22 (IANS) Army XI along with Punjab and Sind Bank advanced to the semi-finals from pool B in the 89th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament here on Wednesday.

Two goals by Siraju A.P. and one apiece by Binoy Bhengra, Biraj Ekka, Bachither Singh and Anup Topno featured the Army's 6-2 win over SAIL for whom R. Sandeep and Santhosh Majhi scored.

Punjab and Sind Bank also recorded their third win by defeating Indian Overseas Bank 4-1 to top the pool. Ramandeep Singh and Karamjit Singh scored twice each for the winners while V. Vinod Rayer responded for IOB with a 51st minute strike.

In a pool A match, CAG overwhelmed Namdhari 3-1 to record their second win in three matches, thanks to goals by V. Shanmugam, S.S. Bundela and Md. Naeemuddin while Harwinder Singh struck for the vanquished.