U Mumba kicked off their home leg in spectacular fashion with a decisive 40-35 victory over Bengaluru Bulls in the 10th season of the Pro Kabaddi League in Mumbai. Debutant Bittu from U Mumba shone with 6 tackle points in his first PKL game.
The team, fueled by an enthusiastic home audience, launched a powerful offensive from the get-go, managing an ALL OUT in just the 7th minute. Guman Singh and Amirmohammad Zafardanesh effortlessly scored points, while U Mumba's defense, bolstered by Bittu's tackle on Aman, led to an early 11-3 lead.
The Bengaluru Bulls struggled to match pace, only earning their first tackle point in the 11th minute, a reflection of their defensive challenges. Their star raider Bharat couldn't find his groove, and although Vikash Kandola showed promise, he couldn’t turn the tide. U Mumba impressively maintained their lead, even with just 3 players on the mat for nearly 5 minutes, ending the first half 19-10.
In the second half, U Mumba continued to extend their lead, with Zafardanesh’s multi-point raid further weakening the Bulls. Sushil's entry off the bench for the Bulls, scoring 6 points rapidly, and Aman's SUPER TACKLE were notable, yet U Mumba secured another ALL OUT. Leading comfortably at 28-18 with 12 minutes remaining, U Mumba kept control.
Bittu, stepping in for Rinku, showcased his skills by tackling Bharat for a High 5. The Bulls' Surjeet Singh executed his career's first SUPER RAID, outmaneuvering three defenders. Sachin Narwal’s subsequent SUPER RAID left U Mumba with only 2 players on the mat. Despite the Bulls achieving an ALL OUT in the match's final raid, U Mumba secured their 5th consecutive victory, underscoring their dominance.
Dabang Delhi shine with comeback victory
Despite staging an impressive rally in the second half, Patna Pirates narrowly missed victory, losing by a single point (37-38) to Dabang Delhi KC. The match's highlights were the performances of Dabang Delhi's Ashu Malik with 10 points, and Patna Pirates' Sachin and M Sudhakar, scoring 10 and 9 points respectively.
Dabang Delhi KC showcased a dominant first half, executing two ALL OUTs against the Pirates. They established a five-point lead with the first ALL OUT in the initial 10 minutes, and extended their advantage to 10 points with the second ALL OUT just six minutes later.
The raiding trio of Malik, Meetu Sharma, and Manjeet for Dabang Delhi KC accumulated an impressive 13 points from 20 raids in the first half, overshadowing the Patna Pirates. Malik was especially notable, managing a SUPER RAID in the last minute of the half and evading any tackles. Despite Sachin’s previous heroic performances for the Pirates, he struggled against Dabang Delhi KC's robust defense, leaving them trailing by 13 points at halftime.
In the second half, Patna Pirates' defense found its rhythm, executing an ALL OUT and reducing the deficit to six points. Sachin then ignited, executing a SUPER RAID against Ashish, Vikrant, and Mohit, bringing the Pirates closer.
The Patna Pirates maintained their momentum, with Sachin and M Sudhakar's exceptional raiding keeping the score tight until the late stages. However, Dabang Delhi KC cleverly ran down the clock to secure their victory.
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