New Zealand defender Ken Russell scored a dramatic hat-trick as HIL GC defeated SG Pipers 3-2 in a thrilling Men’s Hockey India League match at the SDAT-Mayer Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Monday. After a goalless and largely dull first half, the contest came alive after the break with five goals scored in the third and fourth quarters.

While the teams lacked cutting edge in the final third of the first half, both sides impressed with their defensive organization and midfield structure. The goalkeepers were rarely tested early on, but the intensity and quality increased rapidly after the break, leading to an exciting finish.

The deadlock was broken early in the third quarter when the Pipers’ Q Willott found space in a crowded circle. A quick pass from Tomas Domin found the Australian, who lofted the ball neatly past goalkeeper James Mazzarello. However, the gain was short-lived.

HIL GC responded quickly through Russell, whose powerful drag-flick from the penalty corner took the ball past goalkeeper Tomas Santiago. A few seconds later, Russell again attempted an almost identical effort, which slipped through the keeper’s legs to give his team a 2–1 lead.

The Pipers came back in the fourth quarter and equalized with the help of Dilraj Singh, who completed a penalty-corner routine after the rebound. Moments earlier, Mazzarello had kept HILL GC in the game with three excellent saves from Domini’s powerful penalty-corner drive.

With the clock ticking, Russell, a veteran of over 150 international matches, underlined why he is considered one of the most dangerous drag-flickers in the game. A powerful strike in the final moments proved too much for Santiago, completing a memorable hat-trick for Russell and ensuring a thrilling victory for HIL GC.

Result: HIL GC 3 (Russell 35-pc, 37-pc, 60-pc) bt SG Pipers 2 (Willott 31, Dilraj 56-pc).