Continuing their gritty performances, Ranchi Rays came from two goals down to hold Dabang Mumbai to 2-2 in a Hockey India league encounter at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. Daniel Beale (16th) and skipper Ashley Jackson scored for the hosts, to equal matters after visitors had taken a 0-2 lead through Glenn Turner (12th) and Santa Singh (15th). Both the teams get two points each from the drawn match. In the 12th minute, young Harmanpreet Singh went up to the right and crossed it to veteran Arjun Halappa, who hit it at the goal before being deflected in by an unmarked Australian Turner.
In the final minute of the quarter, Turner set up Santa Singh in front of the goal. The ball easily entered the goalpost in another display of poor defending by Ranchi. However, Ranchi came roaring back in the second quarter. In the first minute, veteran English playmaker Barry Middleton fed young midfeidler Beale inside the circle. The Australian employed an energetic reverse-hand strike to make it 1-2. Englishman Jackson, the short corner specialist, scored in the 38th minute as he blasted a fiercely struck hit into the top-right corner to equalise.
Swann out of HIl
Dabang Mumbai defender Matthew Swann was on Wednesday ruled out of the ongoing HIl due to a calf injury. Australian Swann has returned home for the treatment of his injured calf. He was picked up for $78,000 but didn't play a single game in the league.