PKL 9: U Mumba beat Haryana Steelers in a thriller

In the second game of the day, Puneri Paltan beat Bengal Warriors by two points.

U Mumba’s solid defensive unit came to the party yet again and as did the likes of Guman Singh and Jai Bhagwan, as they survived a couple of scares against the Haryana Steelers enroute picking up a crucial win in the vivo Pro Kabaddi League PKL Season 9 at the Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, Bengaluru on Friday.

The U Mumba side won the nail-biter 32-31.  In the second game of the day, Puneri Paltan defeated Bengal Warriors whereas, in the final game, table-toppers Dabang Delhi were stunned by bottom-placed Patna Pirates.

PKL 9 Day 13 Match 1: U Mumba 32-31 Haryana Steelers

While Guman Singh picked up the first points for U Mumba, it was Meetu Sharma who got the Haryana Steelers off the mark. U Mumba’s defensive unit didn't allow the Steelers to edge ahead as Jai Bhagwan and co inflicted an ALL OUT to give U Mumba a good lead as the midway stage of the first half approached.  

U Mumba pressed home their advantage and continued to pick up points quickly as the Steelers’ task became tougher, in what was a pacy game. However, Nitin Rawal and Manjeet’s SUPER TACKLE kept the Steelers in the hunt. At the midway point, U Mumba led 17-15, but, the momentum was firmly with the Steelers.  

U Mumba regained the momentum and surged ahead in the early part of the second half to widen their lead further. But Amirhossein Bastami and Sushil led the fightback for the Steelers as U Mumba’s lead continued to reduce by the play. The Steelers took the lead with less than 7 minutes to go when Jaideep Dahiya helped his team inflict an ALL OUT.  

The Steelers fought hard in the final phase of the game, and seemed to have proceedings going their way, but Guman Singh picked up a couple of crucial raids to help his team clinch a thriller.

PKL 9 Day 13 Match 2: Puneri Paltan 25-23 Bengal Warriors

The Puneri Paltan put up a spirited performance in the second half to register a hat-trick of wins in the vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 9 after defeating Bengal Warriors 27-25 at the Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. Captain Fazel Atrachali led from the front with 6 tackle points, while raider Aslam Inamdar scored 5 points.

Maninder Singh effected a few raids as the Bengal Warriors took the lead at 6-5 in the 6th minute. However, Fazel Atrachali tackled Maninder soon after and levelled the scores at 6-6. The Warriors were on the verge of getting ALL OUT, but defender Girish Maruti Ernak and all-rounder Manoj Gowda came to the rescue and helped their team take the lead at 12-9 in the 14th minute. Aslam Inamdar found it difficult to breach the Warriors' defense unit as the side from Bengal led at 15-11 at the end of the first half.

The Puneri Paltan played with more determination in the second half, but the Warriors managed to keep their noses in front at 17-15 in the 27th minute. However, Sombir tackled Shrikant Jadhav and Akash Shinde effected a raid soon after to level the scores at 17-17. Both sides kept trading points before the Puneri Paltan tackled Rohit to inflict an ALL OUT and take a big lead at 24-20.

Fazel Atrachali also stepped up his game as the Puneri Paltan continued to stay ahead at 27-22 in the 39th minute. Raider Mohit Goyat treaded carefully and eventually closed out a comprehensive victory for the side from Pune.

PKL 9 Day 13 Match 3: Patna Pirates 37-33 Dabang Delhi

An exemplary second-half defensive performance led by Neeraj Kumar (4 points) and Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (3 points) helped Patna Pirates inflict a loss on Dabang Delhi KC for the first time this season. The Pirates won the third game of the evening 37-33 at the Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

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A rematch of last year's final — with many of the same protagonists — the game promised high-fire action, and did not disappoint. With the very first raid of the evening, Dabang Delhi captain Naveen Kumar took out Chiyaneh, the Pirates' lead defender.

Immediately after, his opposite number, Sachin, was caught out, leaving the Pirates without their two best players on the mat. Soon enough they were staring at an early ALL OUT, only for Rohit Gulia to pull out a SUPER RAID to draw them level.

It was a resurgence that came out of nothing but sustained long enough to completely throw Delhi off. Within minutes, it was them staring at the bottom of the barrel, Naveen tackled out early, and Manjeet and Krishan the only two on the mat. But, Manjeet and Krishan pulled off two SUPER TACKLES in a row between them to not just keep Dabang in the game, but take a small lead.

Ashu Malik's SUPER RAID — catching out Pirates Neeraj Kumar, Manish and Sunil — drew them wide in front. Almost on the stroke of halftime, Dabang got the first ALL OUT of the game, and went into the break comfortably leading 20-12.

The Pirates entered the second half a team transformed, Chiyaneh and Rohit Gulia the key to their resurgence at the two ends of the mat. Not only did Gulia's raids keep scratching away at the Dabang lead, but their impeccable defending meant Delhi did not score a single point for the first five minutes of the half. Despite strong resistance and another SUPER TACKLE keeping Delhi alive, finally the Pirates got an ALL OUT of their own to level the game at 24-24.

From there, the Pirates did not let up, and despite Delhi's desperate defensive measures and ability to keep the scores close, Naveen Kumar's absence from the mat — for over a quarter of the game — meant the Pirates had exacted revenge in the best way possible. A second ALL OUT arrived with just a few minutes left, as the Pirates got their first win of the season.

Award Winners of the Night:

Match 1: U Mumba vs Haryana Steelers

Perfect Player of the Match - Guman Singh (U Mumba)Gamechanger of the Match - Surinder Singh (U Mumba)Moment of the Match - Harendra Kumar (U Mumba)

Match 2: Puneri Paltan vs Bengal Warriors

Perfect Player of the Match - Fazel Atrachali (Puneri Paltan)Gamechanger of the Match - Sombir (Puneri Paltan)Moment of the Match - Akash Shinde (Puneri Paltan)

Match 3: Patna Pirates vs Dabang Delhi KC

Perfect Player of the Match - Rohit Gulia (Patna Pirates)Gamechanger of the Match - Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (Patna Pirates)Moment of the Match - Rohit Gulia (Patna Pirates)