Lazarus Barla is fast turning into a penalty-corner specialist. With the Seniors trailing 0-2 and 2-3, he scored both the equalisers before converting the match-winner in the 51st minute.

Earlier, in an absorbing Pool B tie, Tamil Nadu XI edged out IHF juniors 2-1 to enter the semifinals. TN completed their engagements with six points from two victories while the Juniors will take on Mumbai XI in the last league match on Wednesday. The Juniors need an outright victory, a draw will suffice Mumbai.

In Pool A, the Seniors kept their slate clean with an all-win record and Air-India, with today's loss, have to await the verdict between Karnataka XI and Hyderabad XI on the morrow. Karnataka will have to win a eight-goal margin to pip Air-India on goaldifference.

Air-India's eighth-minute strike through short-corner specialist Len Aiyappa perked them up. They kept up the pressure with Rajesh Chouhan and Kishore Kumar being prominent in attack. Their second goal came through Chouhan, who slotted home Darryl D'Souza' pass (2-0).

But the Seniors struck back. Dhanraj Pillay received a through pass from Hasrat Qureshi, darted into the striking circle and chopped it in (2-1).

Undaunted, A-I continued to harass Seniors' defence. However, it was the Seniors who came up with the equaliser -- Lazarus Barla converting the team's second short-corner with a direct hit. But A-I went ahead again. Cornelius D'Costa's feeble shot from a short corner deflecting in off a defender's stick.

After resumption the Seniors restored parity following a set-piece sequence through Barla in the 41st minute. Barla's third goal from the fifth corner proved to be the match-winner for Seniors.

Earlier, TN scored through Vinod Kumar and Diwakar to edge out IHF Juniors.Sukhamritpal converted a penalty corner by Prabjhot missed a stroke.