In a commanding display at the Patliputra Indoor Stadium in Patna, Dabang Delhi K.C. triumphed over U.P. Yoddhas with a 36-27 scoreline on Saturday. The match was a showcase of Dabang Delhi K.C.'s tactical prowess, led by Ashu Malik's impressive 11-point haul and bolstered by a defensive masterclass from Yogesh, Vikrant, and Vishal Bhardwaj. This victory propelled Dabang Delhi K.C. to third place in the standings.
The game started off competitively, with both teams exchanging points in the initial five minutes. However, Dabang Delhi K.C. quickly gained the upper hand, consistently earning touch points and inflicting the first All-Out within the game's first quarter, thereby establishing a five-point lead that they maintained throughout the match.
U.P. Yoddhas' performance hinged largely on Gagana Gowda's efforts, especially in the absence of a significant contribution from their star player, Pardeep Narwal, who didn't score in the first half. Gowda managed to execute the first Super Raid of the match shortly before halftime, keeping the Yoddhas in contention. Despite this, Dabang Delhi K.C. entered the break with a 20-13 lead.
The second half saw Gowda's efforts ultimately prove insufficient against the dominant display from Dabang Delhi K.C. With Pardeep Narwal struggling to make an impact, U.P. Yoddhas found it challenging to counter the consistent raiding and solid defense of Dabang Delhi K.C. The team's lead grew with each successful raid by Ashu Malik, and they eventually secured a second All-Out, extending their lead to a robust 33-23.
Gowda achieved his first-ever Super 10 in the game's final quarter, but it was primarily about damage control for U.P. Yoddhas at that point as they aimed to minimize their deficit. However, Dabang Delhi K.C. maintained their momentum and closed out the match with a significant nine-point win.
Patna Pirates' unbeaten home run continues
Patna Pirates and Puneri Paltan battled to a thrilling 32-32 draw on Saturday. The match was a showcase of skill and strategy, with Puneri Paltan captain Aslam Inamdar scoring 13 points, Patna Pirates captain Sachin earning 8 raid points, and Mayur Kadam securing 5 tackle points.
Coming off a remarkable victory against Bengal Warriors, Patna Pirates faced early challenges in this match, conceding the first All-Out. Puneri Paltan's raiding trio - Aslam Inamdar, Mohit Goyat, and Pankaj Mohite - steadily broke down Patna's defense, with Gaurav Khatri's crucial tackle on Manjeet in the 10th minute propelling the visitors to an 11-6 lead.
Patna Pirates, however, rallied impressively. Under Sachin's leadership, their raiders focused on Puneri Paltan’s cover defenders, narrowing the gap. By halftime, Puneri Paltan held a 19-14 lead.
The second half saw Patna Pirates come out strong. A multi-point raid by Sachin reduced Puneri Paltan to three players, but the visitors displayed tenacious defense to prevent an All-Out. Nonetheless, a misstep from Sanket Sawant again left Puneri Paltan vulnerable, and Patna Pirates capitalized, closing the gap to 23-20 with ten minutes remaining.
Sachin then executed a remarkable raid, breezing past three defenders to score an All-Out and propel Patna Pirates into the lead for the first time at 25-24 with nine minutes left. The match intensified as Patna Pirates gained a 30-27 advantage with under four minutes to play. Mayur Kadam continued his excellent form, achieving a second consecutive High 5 with a crucial tackle on Pankaj Mohite.
In the final moments, Puneri Paltan staged a comeback, narrowing Patna Pirates' lead to 32-31. In the last raid of the match, Patna's Manjeet was tackled just short of the bonus line, resulting in a dramatic tie and both teams sharing the points. This intense match demonstrated the high level of competition in the league, with both teams showcasing their resilience and skill.
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