NEW DELHI, July 25:
Dabang Delhi’s hopes of making the semi-finals suffered a big setback as they lost a thrilling encounter 31-32 to Patna Pirates in Pro Kabaddi League, here today.
Meraj Sheykh’s heroic performance wasn’t enough for Delhi but Pardeep Narwal’s fantastic performance counted for Patna Pirates. Pardeep scored nine raid points to lead his team win.
Sheykh suffered an injury early in the game but battled on to lead his team to score 11 points.
Pirates remain top of the league with 52 points from 13 games whereas Delhi are seventh in the table with 27 points from 12 games. Delhi, who needed to win all four remaining three games, now have slim chance of making it to the semi final.
Rajesh Mondal opened Patna Pirates’ account with a raid in the first minute. Dabang Delhi KC sent danger man Pardeep Narwal in the second minute to level the game at 1-1.
Kashiling Adake made his first raid in the sixth minute as Dabang Delhi KC led 4-3. Rajesh Mondal scored his third raid point as Patna Pirates leveled the game at 4-4 in the seventh minute. Both teams were evenly matched as it was 6-6 after 11 minutes.
Narwal didn’t score a single point in the first 12 minutes for Patna Pirates but scored a bonus point in 14th minute as Patna Pirates led 9-7.
Dabang Delhi were reduced to just two men and staring at an all out as PardeepNarwal found his groove and scored three quick points to lead 12-8.
However Adake scored a two-point raid to avert an all out as Delhi trailed 11-13 after 16 minutes. Delhi’s star duo of Sheykh and Adake then forced a super tackle to tie the game at 13-13 in the 18th minute. Delhi forced another super tackle as they led 16-14 at the end of the first half.
Pirates scored two tackle points in two minutes to tie the game at 16-16 after 22 minutes. Sheykh averted another all out as he got a tackle point in 24th minute to tie the game at 17-17.
Pirates missed a fourth chance of inflicting an all out as Sheykh a two-point raid to lead 21-19 after 25 minutes. A resolute Delhi refused to give in as they forced another super tackle in the 26th minute to lead 23-20.
Rajesh Mondal scored a two-point raid in the next minute to reduce Delhi to one man and cut the lead to one point as well. Sheykh’s stellar performance continued as he once again averted an all out to give Delhi a three-point lead in the 28th minute.
Narwal finally helped Patna inflict an all out in 29th minute as they led 26-25. A tense last 10 minutes ensued as both teams battled out for a win.
Patna Pirates sent Sheykh to the bench in 31st minute to lead 27-25. Adake scored two points with a superb raid in 31st minute to level the game at 28-28. Dabang Delhi KC led 31-29 with less than four minutes left on the clock.
Pirates weren’t giving up and sent Sheykh to the bench and Pardeep Narwal scored a raid point and leveled the game at 31-31 in the 38th minute. It was a nail-biting finish and onus was on Delhi to win but Pirates inflicted a tackle in the dying seconds to win 32-31. (PTI)
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