WSH - Chennai Cheetahs out of the tournament

There was another farce and the much feared Chennai Cheetahs were reduced to nothing going down to Mumbai Marines in the last of the league matches.

World Series Hockey (WSH) is an initiative of Indian Hockey Federation with the objective to reinvigorate hockey and the matches are played between clubs more in the fashion of IPL – but with lesser degree of viewership.  To make the game more interesting these are divided in 4 quarters of 17.5 minutes each.   

Chennai Cheetahs had sought to build up a good team – their captain is Brent James Livermore, who played with distinction for Australia and coached by Jose Brasa, the Spaniard.  Some big names such as Adam Sinclair,  Mujtabas, Vikaram Pillay and the Pakistani Syed Imran Warsi.

Chennai had to win yesterday but it was not to be - Syed Imran Warsi, whom everyone had dreaded facing for the last 30 days, evoked nothing more than a wry smile from a rival defender as he struck his first drag-flick goal of the day with just five minutes remaining, leaving many with the sinking feeling that the league had come to an abrupt end for the mesmerising and talented Chennai Cheetahs.  Mumbai Marine’s foreign player Troy Sutherland ensured a crushing 4-1 win in the 56^th match of the tournament – the last of the league matches in the inaugural Bridgestone World Series Hockey.   Marines  defence was too good with  Adrin D’Souza dazzling at the post.  Marines took an unassailable 2-0 lead at half-time, scoring once in each quarter while Adrian D’Souza led from the front making two great saves to stop Warsi from converting his drag-flicks at the other end. 

Cheetahs did sparkle well with Warsi being the highest goal scorer but still could not qualify for the next round.    Now the first Semi finals would be held at KSHA Stadium, Bengalure on 1^st Apr 2012 between : Sher-E-Punjab  against  Karnataka Lions.  The second Semis between Chandigarh Comets and Pune Strykers would be played at MHA Mahindra stadium, Mumbai.   Watch the action live on Neo Cricket & Neo Sports

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.