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Three-time champions of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Patna Pirates started the eighth edition of the league on a winning note after they managed to beat Haryana Steelers in a thrilling encounter 42-39, played on December 23 (Thursday).
A superb 15-point show from Monu Goyat helped the Pirates to clinch the first victory of the current edition. It just took seven minutes for the Haryana-born player to claim the first bonus point of the night. Pirates skipper Prashanth Rai scored a bonus and a touch point to earn 8-6 lead for his side.
Very soon, Rohit Gulia, the best raider of the night with 10 points, scored a super raid to reduce his opponents Pirates to just two men. But unfortunately, his heroics did not pay off as he finished on the losing side.
Both the teams scored four points in the final three minutes of the first half and went into the halftime break with the Steelers leading 22-15.
Early in the second half, Goyat quickly turned the tide of the clash with some flawless raiding. The veteran player added four points to his team’s tally and left the Steelers with just one player on the mat. The Pirates’ defence pinned the raider down to cause an all out and take a crucial one-point lead.
Down to just three players on the mat, Haryana’s defence notched two super tackles in succession to cut the Pirates’ lead down to a couple of points. Goyat responded to his setback with a super raid that left the Steelers with a lone player on the mat.
He managed to pick a touch point, which revived Surender Nada, who super tackled Goyat to cut Patna Pirates’ lead down to just one. Nada turned out to be the best defender of night (5 points) but his stellar show ultimately turned out to be meaningless as his side conceded defeat in their inaugural fixture of the eight edition.
Eventually, a do or die raid by Sachin helped his side Pirates to sustain the lead. A diving ankle hold was made by the right in defender but it was too weak as Sachin jumped and turned to get back to his half.
