PKL 8: Haryana claim second win of the season, Bengaluru beat Pune

Both the teams played top-notch encounters to register the victories.

Haryana Steelers pulled off a thrilling victory after defeating Gujarat Giants 38-36 in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 8 in Bengaluru on Sunday. The Steelers took a massive lead in the first half, but the Giants clawed their way back into the match and gained the lead in the last few minutes of the game.

However, the team held their nerve and found a way to close out a sensational win. Captain Vikash Kandola was Haryana's best player in this PKL match with 11 raid points.

Gujarat Giants took the lead early on in the match, however, Kandola effected a couple of brilliant raids and helped his team get its nose in front. The Haryana Steelers carried an All Out in the 10th minute and took a four-point lead at 9-5. Moments later, the Haryana side carried out a brilliant tackle and took a seven-point lead at 12-5 in this PKL match.

In the 12th minute, Meetu helped Haryana extend their lead even more after pulling off a fantastic raid. The Steelers carried another All Out in the 14th minute as the Steelers led at 18-6. Kandola effected a fantastic raid in the last few minutes of the first half as the two teams went into the break with the Steelers leading at 22-10.

Giants started the second half strongly as they picked up a few points quickly, however, the Steelers carried out a Super Tackle and led at 24-14. The Giants carried an All Out in the 28th minute and reduced the Steelers' lead, but, the Haryana side kept picking up points and kept forging ahead.

Meetu pulled off a brilliant raid in the 32nd minute as the Steelers led at 30-25. However, the Giants inflicted an All Out in the 37th minute and gained the lead at 32-31. He kept Haryana in the game after pulling off a Super Raid in the 39th minute of the match as the two sides were locked at 35-35.

The Steelers carried out a fantastic tackle in the last minute of the match and regained the lead at 36-35. Kandola pulled off a couple of raids in the dying seconds of the match and helped his team record a thrilling victory in PKL Season 8.

Bengaluru stage a comeback win against Puneri Paltan

Pawan Sehrawat was once again the star as Bengaluru Bulls decimated Puneri Paltan 40-29 in Match 29 of PKL Season 8. The star raider scored 11 points, 10 of which came in a second half that helped the Bulls overcome a 6-point lead Pune had at the break. Paltan had a great start to the match but lost their composure against an experienced Bulls attack.

Pune went into the match as underdogs, especially with Rahul Chaudhari missing from the squad, but it was their raiders who started brightly. The young raiding duo of Mohit Goyat and Aslam Inamdar regularly found chinks in the Bengaluru armour. At the other end, Bengaluru struggled for points with both their top raiders Pawan Sehrawat and Chandran Ranjit looking tired. Pune defence, marshalled by the experienced corners Baldev and Vishal Bharadwaj, ensured the Bulls got no easy points. Pune clinched their first ALL OUT in the 15th minute to open a five-point gap. Bulls tried to fight back with their young raider Bharat but the half ended 18-13 with Pune in the lead.

Champion teams have an ability to dig deep into their reserves for inspiration and that is exactly what Bengaluru Bulls did post the break. Pawan Sehrawat said enough was enough as he led the Bulls’ charge with multiple raid points that eventually gave them an ALL OUT in the 9th minute. There was a definite shift in momentum as Pune’s next-generation stars looked leaderless on the mat.

The bulls clinched another ALL OUT with six minutes remaining and opened a 12-point lead. Pawan Sehrawat raced to yet another Super 10 as coach Anup Kumar’s Pune team struggled to cope with the intensity. The experienced heads of Bulls ensured there were no slip-ups in the final minutes to ensure they get all 5 points. Pune could only muster 11 points in the second half which will have coach Anup Kumar worried.

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