PKL 9: Bulls, Giants, U Mumba register big wins

PKL 9 Match 47: U Mumba vs Bengal Warriors

U Mumba were in scintillating form on Saturday evening, as they picked apart the Bengal Warriors’ challenge and registered a 36-25 victory in the vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 9 at Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune on Saturday. For U Mumba, it was Rinku, Ashish and Mohit who vital contributions during the course of the win.  

Match Centre

Maninder Singh started things off for the Bengal Warriors with the first raid, after which they picked up some important points, to edge into an early lead. U Mumba, who are known for their defensive unit, though bounced back with a Super Tackle on Maninder. Surinder Singh engineered another Super Tackle soon after as the momentum started to shift.  

Midway through the first half, the Warriors had allowed U Mumba back into the game, as the contest started to heat up. Both sides traded raids and tackles from then on in. Jai Bhagwan and Surinder were helping the U Mumba side make solid progress as Rinku pitched in with another Super Tackle, wiping out the lead that the Warriors had. Ashish got in a Super Raid for U Mumba, who ended the half with the game in their control. U Mumba roared back in the second phase of the first half, and led 21-13 at the break.  

In the second half, the Warriors started to fight back, with Shrikant Jadhav’s Super Raid cutting down the lead to a 5-point one. The Warriors were looking to mount a fight back and depended on Maninder, Shrikant and Balaji, who were doing the majority of the heavy lifting for them.  

However, U Mumba continued to have a stronghold of the match, with the defence working brilliantly, and the lead standing at 8 points. U Mumba kept the Warriors at arm’s length from then on in and eventually walked off with a comprehensive win. 

Rinku Narwal and Sourav Gulia showed some class with their defense.

PKL 9 Match 46: Gujarat Gaints vs Telugu Titans

The Gujarat Giants produced a clinical performance, especially in the second half, to secure a 30-19 victory against Telugu Titans in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 9 at the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune on Saturday. Rakesh, Sourav Gulia and Parteek Dhaiya chipped in with 6 points each for Gujarat in the match. 

Match Centre

Monu Goyat pulled off a couple of raids as the Telugu Titans took the lead at 5-2 in the 8th minute. However, the Giants fought back through raider Parteek Dhaiya and defender Sourav Gulia and levelled the scores at 5-5. Rakesh pulled off a magnificent raid in the 12th minute to help his team inch ahead at 7-6. However, the Titans regained the lead at 10-8 in the 17th minute after a fantastic raid by Adarsh T. The Telugu Titans tackled Purna Singh and kept their noses in front at 12-9 at the end of the first half.

The Giants showed more urgency in the second half and took the lead at 13-12 in the 24th minute. Moments later, Gujarat inflicted an ALL OUT to take a massive lead at 17-13. All-rounder Shankar Gadai also joined the party as the Giants attained a stronghold of the match at 21-15 in the 31st minute. Rakesh continued to shine and helped Gujarat to keep moving forward in the game. The Giants tackled Siddharth Desai in the 38th minute and held a comfortable lead at 25-19. Gujarat kept raging on and eventually closed out a comprehensive victory.

PKL 9 Match 45: Bengaluru Bulls vs Dabang Delhi

The Bengaluru Bulls' raider secured 20 points in the match

The Dabang Delhi K.C. had the momentum in the last few minutes of the match, but an inspiring performance by Bengaluru Bulls' raider Bharat helped his team register a thrilling 47-43 victory in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 9 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune on Saturday. Bharat notched a whopping 20 points in the match.

Match Centre

Bharat and Vikash Kandola effected fantastic raids and reduced Delhi to just one player on the mat in the 8th minute. Soon after, the Bulls inflicted an ALL OUT and took the lead at 12-10. Defender Mayur Kadam stepped up his game as the Bulls continued to extend their lead. Bharat carried out a SUPER RAID in the 12th minute to help Bengaluru take a massive lead at 19-11. The Bulls kept raging on and inflicted another ALL OUT in the 15th minute to attain a stronghold of the match at 24-14. Bharat kept carrying out raids as the Bulls led at 27-18 at the end of the first half.

Naveen effected a couple of raids and reduced the Bulls to two players on the mat in the opening minutes of the second half. Soon after, the Dabang Delhi K.C. raced back into the match through an ALL OUT, but the Bulls still held the lead at 28-25. However, Ashu Malik pulled off an incredible SUPER RAID in the 29th minute and helped Delhi level the scores at 31-31. Thereafter, the two sides played out a neck and neck contest as they were locked at 37-37 in the 39th minute. But, moments later, Captain Naveen effected a crucial raid to help his team inflict an ALL OUT and take the lead at 42-39. However, Bharat pulled off a magnificent raid in the last minute of the match and aided his side to inflict an ALL OUT to seal one more thrilling victory in PKL 9.

Award Winners of the Night:

Match 1: Bengaluru Bulls vs Dabang Delhi K.C.

vivo Perfect Player of the Match - Bharat (Bengaluru Bulls)

Dream 11 Gamechanger of the Match - Saurabh Nandal (Bengaluru Bulls)

Moment of the Match - Bharat (Bengaluru Bulls)

Match 2: Telugu Titans vs Gujarat Giants

vivo Perfect Player of the Match - Sourav Gulia (Gujarat Giants)

Dream 11 Gamechanger of the Match - Parteek Dhaiya (Gujarat Giants)

Moment of the Match - Parteek Dhaiya (Gujarat Giants)

Match 3: Bengal Warriors vs U Mumba

vivo Perfect Player of the Match - Rinku (U Mumba)

Dream 11 Gamechanger of the Match - Mohit (U Mumba)Moment of the Match - Ashish (U Mumba)