CHANDIGARH: With a young and inexperienced forward line, barring Olympian Gagan Ajit Singh, in their line-up luckless but erratic Sher-e-Jalandhar gave a disappointed performance and were tamed by Hyderabad Sultans by 3-0 in their opening fixture in the fourth edition of the Premier Hockey League being played at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here Saturday.

Commenting on the Shers' performance today, their manager former Olympian Surinder Singh Sodhi said "we have a very young forwardline except Gagan Ajit Singh. We also missed few chances. Once Dutch player Don Prinse's touch hit the crosspiece.  Hyderabad Sutlans goalkeeper Oscar Tar Weme of Dutch saved the shots of Gagan Ajit and Oscar. Despite these misses, my boys did not play to their potentials."

After conceding a goal, Sher-e-Jalandhar played a subdued game with the forwards making erratice passes and Hyderabad Sultans capitalised on these mistakes. The first half remained goalless.

Hyderabad Sultans were also disallowed a goal by the TV umpire. The star performer for Sultans was Pawal Lakra who banged home two field goals. At the fag-end of the match Diwakar Ram made it 3-0.  

Hyderabad Sultans got two short corners in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter,  Didar Singh seemed to have deflected a pass from Pramod Kumar who was fed by captain Sardar Singh. Umpire Varinder Bahadur  Singh awarded the goal. However,  on protest from Shers, Singh referred it to the TV umpire who disallowed the goal. Soon, the Shers were reduced to 10 men as Mandeep Singh injured Adnan Maqsood of Pakistan and was shown yellow card.

Hyderabad Sultans took the lead in the 43rd minue.  Put in by Nitin Kumar, Bikas Toppo stormed into the circle and gave a measured pass to Pawal Lakra who banged home in a smooth action. (1-0)
Hyderabad increased the margin through another field goal. Trapping a ball near the centre line Saradar Singh dribbled his way to the 25-yardline before giving a pass to  his brother Didar Singh. Didar cut into the circle before shooting  from an acute angle. Shers' custodian Salman Akbar fumbled and Pawal Lakra sneaked in and just tapped the ball into an open goal. (2-0)

Five minutes before the end, Bikas Toppo got Hyderabad's fifth of the six penalty corners. Sardar took the push and Nitin set it up perfectly for Diwakar Ram, who scored with a low flick.

Hyderabad Sultans forward Pawal Lakra was declared man of the match. Hyderabad Sultans won their first match out of two. Earlier, they were beaten by Chandigarh Dynamos in the inaugural match. Shers were playing their first match.