Defending champions Kalinga Bidyapitha, Sampur trounced Palasuni High School 6-0 in their second and last Group-A match to become the first team to enter quarterfinals of the MCL Cup 29th Bhubaneswar Inter-School Football Tournament here at Unit-VI Boys’ High School Ground today.

Kalinga Bidyapitha owed their win to vibrant striker Ashok Padhi, who notched up the first hattrick of the tournament, scoring his three goals in the 15th, 17th and 45th minutes. Other three goals for Kalinga Bidyapitha were netted by Mihir Dehuri (23rd), Suryakanta Majhi (28th) and Tiku Samad (35th). Ashok Padhi’s hattrick fetched him the player of the match prize, which he received from former athlete and Incom Tax Deputy Commissioner Pranati Mishra.

Earlier in the day, former champions Sainik School started their Group-F campaign on a whirlwind note, hammering St Xavier’s High School, Khandagiri with record margin of 8-0 goals. Martyajit Das alone scored four goals to be adjudged the player of the match. Among other scorers, Binay Hial struck twice, while Satyendra Reddy and K Arjun Reddy bulged the net once each. Martyajit received the player of the match prize from Khurda District Sports Officer Lalit Mohanty.