On a hectic day during which six matches were played in the league phase and as many as 43 goals scored, Haryana proved their dominance in no unmistakable terms hammering a listless Kerala by ten goals without reply with Suman Balu accounting for five goals, including a hat-trick. Delhi trounced Pondicherry recording a convincing 12-0 victory after pumping in seven goals in a span of 20 minutes in the first half.

Air-India, after losing 1-4 to Haryana yesterday, came up with an improvised show to thrash West Bengal 7-0 and hosts Tamil Nadu wore down a spirited Vidarbha by three goals without reply. Hosts Tamil Nadu and favourites Uttar Pradesh are on a collision course in Pool B, as their final clash on Saturday will decide the qualifier.

UP had it easy againstRajasthan 5-0 and Manipur hardly faced any resistance in its 6-0 drubbing of Mahakoshal.

Forward Urmila opened the account for Air-India in the 11th minute and Alka made it 2-0 a minute before the break. After resumption, Air-India scored at will and in all had a dozen penalty corners, but could convert only two. Bhupinder struck twice in the 45th and 50th minute and medio Shashi made it 5-0 in the 60th minute. Urmila struck two more in the last quarter of the match to complete the rout.

In Pool D Haryana, spearheaded by their star forward Surinder Kaur continued their act of demolishing their opponents with big margins. Five goals, including three in a row, by deep-defender Suman Balu, all off rasping penalty corner drives, was the highlight of Haryana's victory.

Surinder Kaur scored a brace, one off penalty stroke, with Gurpreet Kaur, Simarjeet Kaur and Sarika adding to the tally. Haryana forced 16 penalty corners to Kerala's nil, proving their supremacy.

With the lowly West Bengal girls beingtheir opponents in their final match in the league, Haryana have virtually booked their berth in the knock out quarter-finals. Air-india are to play Kerala in their last match in the pool tomorrow.

Tamil Nadu, who struggled to get past Vidarbha, scored through Lavanya, Mangala Selvi and Kausalya. Vidarbha and Rajasthan have finished their engagments, the latter losing all their matches and Vidarbha ending up with one win and two losses.

Delhi went on a scoring spree over Pondicherry in Pool E, found their goals through Susheela, (4), Sarita, Pooja, Sangeetha (2 piece), Babita and Savita. The winners led 7-0 at the breather. Delhi's clash with Punjab will be decisive in this pool.

Manipur, who despite two wins have little chance of qualifying for the last eight stage having lost to strong contenders Chandigarh, scored through Sanggai Ibemhal, Beindu Chanu (two goals each), Inaocha Devi and Rashitmombi Chanu, up by two goals at half time.

Results

POOL B: Tamil Nadu 3 (Lavanya,Mangalaselvi, Kausalya) bt Vidarbha 0; UP 7 (Mridula, Kesarvani, Neha Singh all 2 each, Sashi Navaidh 1) bt Rajasthan 0

POOL C: Manipur 6 (Sanggai Ibemhal, Beindu Chanu 2 each, Inaocha Devi, Rashitmombi Chanu) bt Mahakoshal 0

POOL D: Haryana 10 (Suman Balu 5, Surinder Kaur 2, Sarika, Gurpreet Kaur, Simarjeet Kaur 1 each) bt Kerala 0; Air-India 7 (Urmila 3, Bhupinder 2, bt West Bengal 0.

POOL E: Delhi 12 bt Pondicherry 0 (susheela 4, Sarita, Pooja, Sangeetha 2 each, Babita, Savita 1)