The bankmen, trailing 1-2 and needing just a draw, levelled scores in injury time as Bikramjit Singh's rasping hit off their last penalty corner landed in the Orissa net.

Despite the draw, the bankmen entered the last eight stage from Pool `C' on better goal average. Both teams went into the crucial game with two wins from as many matches; however, PSB had 19 goals for and two against, while Orissa scored 14 and conceded four. Punjab had earlier entered the quarterfinals from Pool A.

PSB made two crucial changes from the squad which edged out Chandigarh by a solitary goal on Sunday. Goalkeeper Maninder Singh and left in Ranjit Singh, who both landed in the city just a couple of hours before thecommencement of the match, replaced Paramjit Singh (in goal) and Lakhwinder Singh respectively. Both players, just recovered from illness, justified their inclusion by performing up to the coach's expectations.

The teams went on the defensive in the scoreless first session forcing one penalty corner apiece. PSB started off with a 5-3-2 formation, but after ten minutes, played with only one forward. Similarly, Orissa also played safely deputing more men in the defence.

Nine from nine: Prolific scorer Prabhakar Singh, sporting jersey No 9, pumped in as many goals in Delhi's 15-0 win over Assam in Pool E. Prabhakar made mincemeat of the rivals' defence by slamming goals at will, in the 17th, 26th, 31st, 34th, 41st, 43rd, 50th, 53rd and 68th minutes.

Results

Pool C: PSB 2 (Prabhdeep Singh 47th, ) drew Orissa 2 (Anil Ekka 48th, Sushil Kujur 66th);

Pool D: Services 7 (Paramjit Singh 3, Gabriel Herenz, Arun Minj, Basu Horo, Devki Nandan) bt Nagaland 1

Pool E: Delhi 15 (PrabhakarSingh 9, Sanjeet Kumar 2, Sonu 2, Raju 2) bt Assam 0;

Pool F: UP 4 (Arshad Ahmed 2, Avinash Saxena, Ranjit Singh) bt Manipur 0; SAIL 3 (Ajit Tirkey, Saroj Dung, Nageshwar Topno) bt AP 0