TIRUPATHI, JULY 23: It will be Indian Railways versus Bombay and Haryana against Bihar in the semifinals of the Nutrine sixth Women Hockey Federation Cup on Sunday. In a crucial Pool B match, which turned out to be easily the best match of the tournament so far, Haryana tamed a do-or-die Orissa by an odd goal in three at the SV Arts College grounds on Friday.Earlier, in the last match of the Pool A, Indian Railways once again exhibited their awesome power by crushing hosts Andhra Pradesh 7-0 after leading 4-0 at the break.Jyothi Kullu opened the tally in the seventh minute from a penalty corner. She added a field goal in the 46th minute. There were a brace each from Kamala Dalal (22nd, 54th) and Suraj Latha (33rd, 66th). Manjinder Kaur accounted for the other in the ninth minute.Haryana had entered the field with one win and a draw and Orissa with a lone win and a defeat. Thus, Orissa had to win the match to qualify for the semis, while Haryana needed only a draw. Bombay had already advanced withseven points from this Pool B.Haryana's sustained efforts found result in the eighth minute through Surinder Kaur who beat Orissa custodian Amrita Tete with a tricky placement as she came up to narrow the angle.Orissa got what they were searching for from the last penalty corner in the 65th minute taken by Sarita Ekka. After Sukesini Majhi stopped it, Jasinta Toppo gave it to captain Agnelia Lugun who slipped it to Annarita Kerketta to slot home by an angular shot.From a swift counter through the left flank, Haryana's Saini Simarjeet Kaur passed to Saini Balwinder Kaur to tap home past a helpless Amrita Tete.With this win Haryana and Bombay had identical seven points. But the goals scored (7-4) favoured Haryana to take the top spot in the pool over Bombay (6-3).Saturday is a rest day. Bihar will meet Haryana in the first semifinal on Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by the second semifinal between Indian Railways and Bombay.
