Pune Strykers bounced back from its defeat to Chandigarh Comets on Sunday to post a good win over a fighting Karnataka Lions in the World Series Hockey match here on Monday.
The host had a dream opening when as early as in the 8th minute Roshan Minz sounded the boards.
The Strykers had a good run till about the 24th minute when Len Aiyappa capitalised on the penalty corner to give the Lions the equaliser.
Lungile Tsolekile gave Pune the lead again in the 47th minute, but Inocent Kullu's immediate strike a minute later put the match on even terms.
It was Damandeep Singh's 56th-minute field goal which finally gave the host a much-needed win.
Wizards held
Earlier on Sunday night, Mumbai Marines' defence held sway, with Ajmer Singh's trapping and tackling standing out, in a 2-2 draw against the Delhi Wizards.
Tuesday is a rest day.
After Sunday's round of matches penalty corner specialists occupy the top positions in the goal-scorers' list.
The results: At Pune: Pune Strykers 3 (Roshan Minz, Lungile Tsolekile, Damandeep Singh) bt Karnataka Lions 2 (Len Aiyappa, Inocent Kullu).
Sunday's result:
At Mumbai: Mumbai Marines 2 (Devender Walmiki, Sandeep Michael) drew with Delhi Wizards 2 (Vikramjeet Singh 2).
Goal-scorers' list after six league matches (as per official website): Imran Warsi (Chennai Cheetahs) 12; Gurpreet Singh (Pune Strykers) 8; Gurjinder Singh (Chandigarh Comets) and Karan Baskaran (Bhopal Badshahs) 7.
Joga Singh (Mumbai Marines) and Sukwinder Singh (Comets) 5; Len Aiyappa (Karnataka Lions), Prabhjot Singh (Sher-e-Punjab), Ravipal Singh (Lions), Deepak Thakur (Sher-E-Punjab) and Vikramjeet Singh (Delhi Wizards) 4.
Adam Sinclair (Cheetahs), Philip Sunkel (Wizards), Troy Sutherland (Marines), Bikash Toppo (Strykers), Harpreet Singh (Sher-E-Punjab), Devender Walmiki (Marines) and Mario Almada (Strykers) 3.
