Wizards hold Waveriders

Uttar Pradesh Wizards held last year’s runners-up Delhi Waveriders 1-1 in the third drawn encounter of the second edition of Hero Hockey India League at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Wednesday.

It was expected to be a high-voltage encounter between the two top teams of the league but it turned out to be a tame affair as both Waveriders and Wizards displayed below-par hockey to share two points each from the game.

Both the goals came from field efforts. While Waveriders took the lead through Yuvraj Walmiki (23rd minute), Wizards drew parity through S K Uthappa in the 62nd minute.
The draw propelled the Waveriders (19 points from six games) to the top of the table ahead of Punjab Warriors, while the Wizards continued to hold on to the third place with 15 points from five matches.

It was a drab first quarter as both the teams took time to get their footing in the match. There was not much action in the first 17-and-half minutes as Waveriders and Wizards failed to create open chances.

The second quarter was no different as the two teams continued to slug it out at the midfield but it was the hosts who capitalised on their chances.

The Waveriders took the lead in the 23rd minute through Walmiki who found the back of the Wizards net after being fed by Simon Child.