Captain V S Vinay scored a brace of goals to help former champions Indian Airlines defeat Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, 3-1 and storm into the final of the 24th Indian Oil Surjit Hockey Tournament in Jalandhar on Thursday.
Vinay scored in the 13th and 58th minutes while Sandeep Singh converted a penalty-corner 16th minute in the first semifinal match of the tournament at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium.
Indian Airlines team took lead in the 13th minute through Vinay, who scored off Sandeep Singh's pass from top of the circle.
Sandeep consolidated the lead just three minutes later by converting a penalty-corner.
But Bharat Petroleum reduced the margin through Gurpreet Singh from a penalty-corner in the 26th minute.
Indian Airlines, studded with stars like Dhanraj Pillay and India's Asia Cup-winning captain Prabodh Tirkey, led 2-1 at the break.
Vinay scored his second goal after the breather.
Bharat Petroleum could not recover from the pressure despite earning six successive penalty-corners in the last seven minutes.
