Rays beat Lancers 3-2 to take big step towards HIL semis

Bhubaneswar, Feb 8 : Defending champions Ranchi Rays took a big step towards the semi-fils as they inflicted a second successive defeat on Kalinga Lancers 3-2 in the Hockey India League (HIL) at the Kalinga Stadium here on Monday.

Mohammad Amir Khan scored the winner in the 49th minute with a field goal, counted as two in this edition of HIL. Lancers took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter with Dharamvir Singh's tap-in before Ashley Jackson reduced the difference to one with a successful pelty corner conversion.

Amir's back-hand strike gave the visitors the lead that they maged to hang on till the end as they registered their fourth win in the last five matches.

Ranchi's win pushed Lancers to second position with 23 points from eight matches while the defending champions secured the top slot with 27 points from seven matches. IANS