Rajpal strikes twice as Delhi beat Mumbai

Mumbai: Rajpal Singh`s double strike helped Delhi Waveriders thrash Mumbai Magicians 5-3 in the second edition of the Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) at the Mumbai Hockey Association Stadium here Saturday.

The table-toppers, Delhi Waveriders, took the lead in the third minute with striker Yuvraj Walmiki, who deflected the ball at the goalmouth after skipper Sardar Singh got an initial touch. The hosts managed to equalise seven minutes later through a combined effort from Bharat Chikkara and captain Glenn Turner. It was the visitors who surged ahead in the 11th minute with another brilliant field goal, when Rajpal Singh sent the ball soaring past the diving Mumbai goalkeeper P R Sreejesh. However, it did not take long for the Magicians to draw level for the second time in the match. Turner dodged past the defenders and fed Timothy Deavin at the goalmouth, who nudged the ball inside the unguarded Delhi net in the 35th minute. The Waveriders took the lead once again in the next minute with a brilliant reverse hit from Akashdeep Singh. The last edition`s runner up took a two-goal advantage over the hosts with a magnificent solo run from Rajpal, who sprinted from the mid-field to the D and then took a second touch to sound the board in the 54th. The Waveriders added another goal (Rupinder Pal Singh in 58th) to increase their tally, while Mumbai scored a couple of minutes before the final hooter through their skipper Turner. The Mumbai Magicians will next play Kalinga Lancers here tomorrow while this was the Waveriders` last match in the league stage.