Starting as overwhelming favourites, table toppers Delhi Waveriders would like to continue their winning run when they take on laggards Mumbai Magicians in a round-robin match of the Hockey India League here tomorrow.
Led by the inspirational Sardar Singh, the Waveriders are going
through a dream run in the inaugural HIL, having won four and settled for a draw out of their five games in the event so far.
The Delhi side is atop the points table with 22 points, five clear of second-placed Ranchi Rhinos. Playing in front of a home crowd, the Waveriders are expected to enjoy a clear upper-hand over the Magicians tomorrow.
The Waveriders will go into the match full of confidence after coming out on top in their recent 6-4 goal-fest against the Magicians three days back in Mumbai.
The Delhi strikers are in good form and will test Mumbai's defence and struggling custodian P R Sreejesh, who had conceded a whopping 19 goals in five games. The only concern for the hosts is the poor penalty corner conversion as drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh has been off-colour in the five games so far. The Magicians, on the other hand, would be desperate to end a dismal run by registering their first win in the tournament.
Wizards out for revenge
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Wizards will seek to avenge their defeat in the last match against Ranchi Rhinos when the two sides square in a round-robin Hockey India League match here tomorrow.
Wizards would hope that their skipper VR Raghunath regains his scoring touch in order to get past the Rhinos, who currently are placed second behind leaders Delhi Waveriders.
The Roelant Oltmans-coached Wizards went down 1-3 against the Rhinos in Ranchi yesterday, and the loss could be attributed to their inability to convert five of the six penalty corners earned in the match.