New Delhi: A standout performance by right corner defender D Suresh helped Patna Pirates edge Bengaluru Bulls 30 -28 in a match that rose to great heights follwing a half-time score of 12-9 in favour of Bengaluru Bulls. This was Patna’s fourth win in Season 2 of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. With this win they took their tally to 25 points while Bengaluru with the point they earned today for loss margin of less than seven point, have 31 to their credit. Both the teams maintain their third and fourth positions respectively.
The Bulls got the momentum on their side with star raider Ajay Thakur and Captain Manjit Chillar scoring a point each. Ravi Dalal who had a good match with five touch and two bonus points put Patna on the score board. By the 18th minute it was just 9-9. Deepak Narwal failed to return safely and when Ashish Chhokar came up with a two point raid getting Sandeep Narwal and Varinder Singh to Bulls were up 12-9 at the break.
A super tackle on Manjit Chillar by D Suresh early on and a bonus points brought Patna level at 12-12. Once Ravi Dalal got Joginder Narwal, Patna surged ahead and never looked back. Deepak Narwal's touch on Somvir Shekhar and Sandeep Narwal’s double pointer facilitated the only all-out of the match. The 20-13 lead in the 28th minute was good enough for the winners to squeak through. Manjit Chillar did his best to bring his side back in the match. He took upon himself the onus of raiding as regulars Ajay Thakur and Rajesh Mondal looked off-colour.
Two super tackles on Manjit- the first by D Suresh and then a foul push on rival Varinder Singh, yielded four valuable points to the Pirates, which effectively sealed the fate of the Bulls. Even Ravi Dalal getting out in a do-or-die raid by an error of judgement in scoring a bonus failed to help Bengaluru. The Bulls did get an all-out due to the efforts of Manjit to make it 26-28 but in the end the Pirates had sailed through.
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