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The Ranchi Rays skipper Ashley Jackson scored a hat-trick in the Hockey India League to help his side crush the Kalinga Lancers 4-0 in the Hockey India League at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium and go second in the points table.
The Rays completely dominated the match and made full use of the penalty corners that came their way. They also defended quite well and never allowed the Lancers to take advantage of the superior ball possession they had in the game.
Jackson, meanwhile, was looked the league of his own and fired all three goals on penalty corners. The Ranchi captain not only fired the ball into the goal but equally played well in defence and midfield.
The home side went into the lead as early as in the 11th minute when Jackson earned a penalty corner on a superb run. He made no mistake in slotting it past the goalkeeper in his favorite bottom right corner of the goal.
In the second quarter, Kalinga dominated play and created a number of opportunities but failed to provide the finishing touch. Ranchi’s defence held firm and managed to keep a slender one-goal advantage while heading into the half-time.
Ranchi came out all guns blazing in the third quarter and fired three goals to seal the encounter, with Jackson scoring twice and Nick Wilson also registering his name on the scoresheet.
The second goal was scored by Jackson, when he continued his fine form and gunned the ball into the top right corner, giving no chance to the goalkeeper and defenders in the 32nd minute.
Jackson could have scored his third, few moments later but Manpreet Singh’s injection was not accurate. Ranchi, however, scored the third in the 34th minute when Mandeep Singh deceived the whole Kalinga’s defence giving a perfect pass to Wilson, who put it into the goal. In the 41st minute of the match, Jackson completed his hat-trick also the first for Ranchi Rays in the tournament.
The Rays will next host Uttar Pradesh Wizards on Sunday while the Lancers travel to Mumbai to take on Dabang Mumbai.
