PKL 9: UP Yoddhas, Patna Pirates, U Mumba win in tightly contested affairs

Surender Gill was the pick of the players on Day 30 of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 9.

U.P. Yoddhas handed Haryana Steelers their third consecutive defeat in vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 9 as they registered a comprehensive 40-34 victory at the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune on Friday. Surender Gill starred for the Yoddhas as he earned 11 points to help his team get the win, while Pardeep Narwal also scored crucial 8 points. 

Pardeep started the match with a raid point for UP Yoddhas. But Manjeet earned two bonus points and Meetu earned a raid point of his own to put Steelers in the lead. Just when it looked like Haryana might take control of the match, Rohit Tomar earned two quick raid points to reduce gap between the two sides. A minute later, Surender Gill earned a SUPER RAID and UP Yoddhas inflicted an ALL OUT to take the lead.

https://youtu.be/Md975yPK-lQ

Jaideep brought Steelers back into the contest getting two quick tackle points, sending both Rohit Tomar and the dangerous Pardeep onto the bench. But Nitesh Kumar brought Meetu down with a SUPER TACKLE to ensure UP stayed in the lead. Surender earned a three -point SUPER RAID late in the first half as Yoddhas went into halftime leading at 20-12.

The second half started with K Prapanjan earning a quick raid point to reignite Steelers' hopes. On the other end, Mohit and Jaideep continued to earn quick tackle points as Steelers inflicted an ALL OUT on Yoddhas to ignite a sensational comeback. Manjeet continued his good show on the night as he earned a two-point super raid to level the score once again and put pressure on the opposition, and then he tackled down Pardeep to put Steelers in the lead.

Surender earned another SUPER RAID to help UP get back their lead. A minute later, Meetu was caught by Rohit and Yoddhas regained control. UP Yoddhas inflicted another ALL OUT on Haryana Steelers as they took a 7-point lead with less than 5 minutes left in the game. Pardeep earned a late SUPER RAID which sealed the deal for the Yoddhas.

PKL 9 Day 30 M2: U Mumba 34-33 Puneri Paltan

The U Mumba and Puneri Paltan played out a neck and neck contest throughout their vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 9 match at the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune on Friday. But, the Mumbai side played their cards better in the last few minutes of the match to eventually defeat Puneri Paltan 34-33 on the night.

https://youtu.be/UjTDngZsD2E

Aslam Inamdar picked up a couple of raid points as the Puneri Paltan inched ahead at 4-3 in the 8th minute. However, Guman Singh pulled off a SUPER RAID, catching out Sombir, Aslam Inamdar and Abinesh Nadarajan to help the Mumbai side take the lead at 10-8 in the 13th minute. But, Mohit Goyat and Mohammad Nabibakhsh carried out a SUPER TACKLE in the 15th minute and got the Puneri Paltan back in the lead at 12-10. However, U Mumba fought back and inflicted an ALL OUT in the 19th minute to take the lead at 15-13. Thereafter, Aslam Inamdar picked up a bonus point just before half-time as both teams went into the break locked at 15-15.

After fighting an even battle in the opening minutes of the second half, the Pune side inched ahead at 19-16 in the 27th minute through excellent raids by Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat. Moments later, Goyat effected a magnificent raid to reduce the Mumbai side to just one player on the mat. The Puneri Paltan tackled Guman Singh and inflicted an ALL OUT to take a massive lead at 25-20 in the 32nd minute. Guman Singh effected a multi-point raid, but the Pune side still held the lead at 27-25 in the 36th minute. However, U Mumba inflicted an ALL OUT in the 38th minute and soon after, took the lead at 31-30. Mohit effected a raid in the dying seconds of the match to level the scores at 33-33, but Ashish pulled off a Do or Die to hand U Mumba a thrilling victory in the end.

PKL 9 Day 30 M3: Patna Pirates 37-30 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Patna Pirates defeated the Jaipur Pink Panthers 37-30 in the final game of the evening  at the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune on Friday. With the win, the Pirates extended their unbeaten streak to six. Sachin (8 points), Rohit Gulia (9 points) and all-rounder Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (5 points) were the star performers in their victory. 

https://youtu.be/s3sQkfwtFCs

In the opening stages, both teams matched each other point for point, almost every raid resulting in high-octane action. The difference was in the variety. While the Pirates' points came through the combination of Rohit Gulia and Sachin, the Pink Panthers were reliant solely on the raids of Arjun Deshwal, who scored almost all their raid points in the half. The breakthrough came with about seven minutes left, Chiyaneh's tackle on Deshwal reducing Jaipur to two men and staring at an all out. 

They avoided it twice, the first a SUPER TACKLE by Ankush on Sachin which looked to have sparked a resurgence. Unfortunately, though the Pirates refused to let go of the stranglehold and finally the ALL OUT came with Chiyaneh's tackle on Ajith Kumar as they took the lead at 15-12. Eventually, the Pirates went into the break leading 20-13.

The Pink Panthers rallied in the second half and within minutes had the Pirates in trouble. Duly, they inflicted a first ALL OUT of their own soon after, snatching a 23-21 lead. That all out galvanised the Pirates, reminding them of Jaipur's strength on the bench. Buoyed by Gulia and Sachin, they kept picking up points and their defence backed their raiders as well. They got their second ALL OUT soon after, surging this time into a 32-25 lead. The Pirates kept raging on and eventually walked off the mat as winners of the match.

PKL 9 Award Winners of the Night:

Match 1: U.P. Yoddhas vs Haryana Steelers

vivo Perfect Player of the Match - Surender Gill (U.P. Yoddhas)

Dream 11 Gamechanger of the Match - Pardeep Narwal (U.P. Yoddhas)

Moment of the Match - Surender Gill (U.P. Yoddhas)

Match 2: U Mumba vs Puneri Paltan

vivo Perfect Player of the Match - Guman Singh (U Mumba)

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

Match 3: Patna Pirates vs Jaipur Pink Panthers

vivo Perfect Player of the Match - Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (Patna Pirates)

Dream 11 Gamechanger of the Match - Rohit Gulia (Patna Pirates)

Moment of the Match - Rohit Gulia (Patna Pirates)

PKL 9 Tune In details (12/11/2022)

7:30 PM: Bengal Warriors vs Gujarat Giants

8:30 PM: Telugu Titans vs U.P. Yoddhas 

9:30 PM: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Dabang Delhi K.C.

Venue: Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune