Mumbai: Mumbai Rockets got the better of Saina Nehwal-less Awadhe Warriors 2-1 defeat in the opening Premier Badminton League (PBL) clash here on Saturday.

Warriors lost the first three matches - including their trump match in men's doubles - to squander any chances of a late victory charge. Later, they went on to win the inconsequential fourth match, when Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk defeated India's H S Prannoy of Rockets in three games.

The tie began with men's singles match where Mumbai's Gurusai Dutt defeated Sai Praneeth 14-15, 15-10, 15-8.

Thereafter, they won the men's doubles as Mathias Boe and Vladimir Ivanov beat Warriors pair of Cai Yun and Hendra Gunawan15-11, 15-11 in straight sets. Being a trump game, with the loss, Awadhe lost (-1) points. With two consecutive wins, Mumbai took a healthy 2-0 lead in the tie.

The hosts made it 3-0 when Ruthvika Gadde won the battle of upcoming players when she beat G. Vrushali 15-13, 15-10, which sealed the Warriors' fate in the tie.

Later, Warriors' Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand upset the Rockets' plan of gaining an extra point with a win in their trump game by beating H S Prannoy 15-12 14-15 15-14, a result which made it 2-0 on points for Mumbai. The last mixed doubles match was won by Awadhe Warriors when Bodin Issara and Christinna Pedersen got the better of Mumbai's Kamilla Juhl and Vladimir Ivanov 15-9 14-15 15-14, but it was too late by then.

Results:

Mens singles: R M V Gurusaidutt (Mumbai Rockets) bt B Sai Praneeth (Awadhe Warriors) 14-15 15-10 15-8.

Men's doubles (Trump for Warriors): Mathias Boe/Vladirmir Ivanov (MR) bt Cai Yun/Hendra Gunawan (AW) 15-11 15-11.

Women's singles: Ruthvika Gudde (MR) bt G Vrushali (AW) 15-13 15-10.

Men's singles: H S Prannoy (MR) lost to S Tanongsak (AW) 12-15 15-14 14-15.

Mixed doubles: V Ivanov/Kamilla Juhl (MR) lost to Bodin Issara/Christina Pedersen (AW) 9-15 15-14 14-15.