Air India beat Bangladesh XI 3-0 in a pool ‘B’ match to move to the top of the points table in the Lal Bahadur memorial hockey tournament at Shivaji Stadium here today.Air India, who will meet CISF in the first semi-final tomorrow, led 2-0 at half time with goals from Devinder Kumar (29th minute) and Sandeep Michael (33rd).In the second half, the Bangla XI tried hard to reduce the margin but could not pierce the solid Air India defence controlled by former international Anil Aldrin.The third goal for the airmen came in the 60th minute when Kishore Kumar converted a penalty corner.Earlier, SAI Centre, Bangalore came from behind to drub BPCL 4-1 in an inconsequential match. After conceding a goal soon after the start of the match, which was scored by BPCL striker S Jeelani, the SAI team fought back to bring the equaliser in the 24th minute through Avesh Ansari.On Saturday, Dhanraj Pillay fashioned Indian Airlines’ 2-0 win over Central Industrial Security Force but both winners and losers qualified for the semifinals as they finished first and second in the pool A.In another match, CRPF needed a outright win against ONGC to make it to the last four from pool B but were held to a 4-4 draw and in the process both the teams were eliminated.
