Bengaluru Bulls triumphed over the Haryana Steelers with a score of 53-39 at the Tau Devilal Indoor Stadium in Panchkula on Wednesday, February 21 in the final league game of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. Raider Sushil played a pivotal role for the Bulls, earning an impressive 22 points, marking the key difference in the match.
The game began with the Bulls dominating the early stages, achieving the first ALL OUT to secure an eight-point advantage. However, the Steelers, with their young raider Tejas Patil causing significant disruptions, began to recover, narrowing the gap.
Sushil's Super Raid rocks Steelers
Despite the Steelers managing an ALL OUT to momentarily lead 16-15, the unpredictable nature of the match meant no lead was safe. In a dramatic turn, Sushil's SUPER RAID right before halftime brought the score to a 24-24 tie.
Continuing their momentum after the break, the Bulls, driven by Sushil's effective raiding, quickly regained and extended their lead, culminating in a second ALL OUT to move ahead 34-29. In contrast to the first half, the Bulls maintained their lead, keeping the Steelers at a distance as the final minutes approached.
With five minutes remaining, Sushil's relentless performance provided the Bulls with a secure six-point lead. Through strategic gameplay, they managed the clock well and prevented the Steelers' raiders from scoring. A final ALL OUT in the last minute cemented their lead, ensuring a well-earned victory.
Paltan turn the table on Yoddhas
In a dramatic turn of events, Puneri Paltan staged an incredible recovery, erasing a 13-point deficit to defeat U.P. Yoddhas 40-38, securing the top spot in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 standings on Wednesday. Despite U.P. Yoddhas' Gagana Gowda leading the evening with 16 raid points, it was Pankaj Mohite who emerged as Puneri Paltan’s leading scorer with 12 raid points.
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Entering the match with nothing but honor at stake, U.P. Yoddhas showcased superior play in the first 20 minutes. Gagana's standout SUPER RAID, overcoming Puneri defenders including Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, Abinesh Nadarajan, and Vahid Reza Eimehr, propelled U.P. Yoddhas to an early 5-1 lead by the 3rd minute, a margin that would only expand.
With Gulveer Singh contributing a two-point raid and an ALL OUT by the 8th minute, U.P. Yoddhas advanced to a 12-7 lead. Puneri Paltan, despite possessing the best defense of PKL 10, found it challenging to gain any traction, managing only 2 tackle points in the first 13 minutes, trailing 18-10.
Gagana further showcased his prowess with a remarkable 5-point SUPER RAID in the 15th minute, decimating the Puneri defense and extending U.P. Yoddhas' lead to 24-13. Dominating the first half, U.P. Yoddhas concluded with a 13-point advantage at 28-15.
Pankaj ignites Paltan's comeback
The tide began to turn in the second half as Puneri Paltan introduced Aslam Inamdar and Sanket Sawant, with Pankaj igniting a comeback. His crucial 2-point raid not only completed his Super 10 but also left U.P. Yoddhas hanging by a thread with just one player. Within five minutes, Puneri Paltan executed an ALL OUT, narrowing the gap to 24-30.
Puneri Paltan's resurgence continued, reducing U.P. Yoddhas to three men by the 30th minute, thanks to Shadloui's formidable ankle hold on Gulveer. Following another ALL OUT in the 34th minute, led by Abinesh's tackle on Sumit, Puneri Paltan took the lead for the first time at 35-34.
Despite U.P. Yoddhas regaining a slender lead in the dying minutes through another Gagana multi-point raid, Puneri Paltan fought back to level the scores, with Aslam's 2-point raid and Shadloui’s decisive tackle on Mahipal securing their victory. This win marked Puneri Paltan's 17th of the season, positioning them as the frontrunners heading into the playoffs.
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