Bhopal: In a dramatic comeback which featured an 8-minute blitzkrieg hat-trick from colt Simranjit Singh Randhawa and an opportunistic last goal by Birendra Lakra, Pune Strykers avoided a 1-4 deficit in the last 10 minutes of play to frustrate Bhopal Badshahs to hand out a 4-5 defeat and thus stay in contention for the semifinal in the Bridgestone WSH.

Bhopal Badshahs built up a 4-1 lead with a brace from Waseem Ahmad and a goal apiece from the stick of Karan Baskaran and Affan Yousaf, but the Pune Strykers woke up late and came out with a sterling comeback not only to cancel out the deficit but also to post the winner three minutes before the hooter.

When the score stood 4-4 after Simranjit Singh came out with three penalty corner conversion in the space of eight minutes, Birendra Lakra made use of slack defence of Bhopal to fetch the winner. Pune will now wait for the last WSH match between Chennai Cheetahs and Mumbai Marines billed for Friday for their way to the semis.

Pune would require the  last match to end in a draw or Cheetahs’ defeat to ensure their passage to the knock out phase. The Cheetahs have 19 points now while Strykers have 21 from their 14 matches. That a semifinalist will be decided only in the last match of the month long league speak for the suspense the WSH had thrown up.

Bhopal Badshahs and Pune Strykers were in dire need of outright victory today in their 14th and their last pool match, to stay in contention for the lone semifinal berth, as Chandigarh Comets, Sher-e-Punjab and Karnataka Lions have already booked their berth for the knock out phase. 

Badshahs and Strykers dished out a fierce battle to stake claim for the eluding semis slot, but the former struck early to unsettle their rivals. The host team went in to the business of scoring straightaway to the joy of the full stands. After Lalit Upadhyay missed a sitter, the evergreen Waseem Ahmad showed his class to mastermind Bhopal’s success, scoring on his own or guiding others to strike. Waseem latched on to a close range rebound to strike first goal, and then sent a parallel pass from right baseline which Karan Baskaran gently guided to the left of goalie Gurpreet Singh. Waseem again set up Affan Yousaf for another goal.

Undaunted, Strykers made some inroads but they failed before the charged up custodian Baljit Singh. Nikkin Thimmaiah got Baljit on wrong foot to strike Pune’s first goal. 

On the chance of sides, goalie Gurpreet Singh conceded a stroke for Waseem to complete his brace, to bring the score 4-1 in their favour. Instead of consolidating their gains, Bhopal dug themselves into a defensive mode and let the game fritter away from them.

Pune came charging thereafter, and made mincemeat of Bhopal’s defence. Colt Simranjit Singh changed the course of the match with three impeccable conversions to bring the scoreline level and then Brindra Lakra had the last laugh.