Gujarat Fortunegiants hold Dabang Delhi in thrilling tie
Gujarat Fortunegiants and Dabang Delhi KC played out an exciting 32-32 tie in a zone A match of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 6 on Tuesday.
Gujarat Fortunegiants would be feeling disappointed as they let slip their first half advantage. Chandran Ranjit was the star performer for Delhi as he scored 10 raid points.
For Gujarat Fortunegiants, Rohit Gulia and Sach feeling disappointed as they let slip their first half advantage. Chandran Ranjit was the star performer for Delhi as he scored 10 raid points.
For Gujarat Fortunegiants, Rohit Gulia and Sachin shared the bulk of raid points.
Gujarat Fortunegiants started off brightly with Prapanjan scoring a two-point raid in the second minute.
Dabang Delhi KC were struggling to come to terms with Gujarat in the opening exchanges.
It was all Gujarat in the first few minutes of the match as they inflicted an all out in the sixth minute to lead 9-2.
Delhi's star player Meraj Sheykh had a disappointing first half as he managed to score just a solitary point.
For Gujarat Fortunegiants, Rohit Gulia looked in fine raiding form as he scored four raid points in the first half. He was able supported by Prapanjan who chipped in with four raid points.
Gujarat Fortunegiants led 17-12 at the end of the first half. Both teams started with equal intensity and traded three points in the first four minutes of the second half.
Dabang Delhi made a successful tackle in the 27th minute as they reduced the deficit to just three points and trailed 18-21.
However Gujarat scored three quick points to lead 24-18 after 29 minutes. With less than eight minutes to go the edge seemed to with Gujarat Fortunegiants as they looked sharper and fitter than their opponents.
Sachin seemed to be the fittest raider out there as he scored his sixth raid point to give Gujarat 25-20 lead.
The Brave Moment of the match came in the 32nd minute when Gujarat Fortunegiants forced a super tackle and averted an all out.
Chandran Ranjit scores two quick raid points as Dabang Delhi cut the lead to 27-29. The game was levelled in the 36th minute as Delhi defence scored another tackle point. Rohit Gulia scored a raid point in the 37th minute to give Gujarat 30-29 lead.
Dabang Delhi KC tied the game in the 39th minute again as they sent Rohit Gulia back to the bench.
In a Zone B match, Tamil Thalaivas succumbed to their second successive defeat in a row as they lost to Telugu Titans 28-33.
Playing their first game of the sixth season, Telugu Titans rode on star raider Rahul Chaudhuri's nine raid points and Iranian Mohsen Maghsoudlou's all round effort (three raid points, four tackle points) to down Tamil Thalaivas.
Chaudhari scored nine points and made crucial raids for the Titans. Ajay Thakur (9 raid points) and Amit Hooda (5 tackle points) were the top players for TamilThalaivas but their effort wasn't enough.
The home team, looking to take inspiration from their remarkable back against U.P.Yoddha last night where they fought back from 7-27 to lose 32-37, raced to a two-point lead riding Athul MS's successful raid and Titans' star raider Chaudhari being sent out of the mat in his first attempt.
Tamil Thalaivas led till 8-7 in front of a vociferous home crowd who were lapping up the south Indian derby.
But from there on, they lost ground as the Titans fashioned a late all out to take a healthy 16-9 lead and go into the break 17-11.
Chaudhuri, who stepped down from his captaincy ahead of this season to hand over the reins to young all-rounder Vishal Bharadwaj, started the second half by getting the back of Manjeet Chhillar in the first raid to further extend Titans' lead.
Manjeet Chhillar was a rock at the back for Tamil Thalaivas as they mounted a comeback in the second half.
After 25 minutes, Telugu Titans led 21-16 and the match hung in balance.
The fatigue was showing on Tamil Thalaivas as they played their third match in three days.
Telugu Titans were the fitter team with their defence and raiders looking sharper.
It was a Titans Tuesday Tho for Chaudhari's team as they maintained their composure in the last few minutes of the match and didn't give Thalaivas a chance to make a comeback.
Amit Hooda attained a high five in the last minute of the match but it wasna¿t enough. Tamil Thalaivas made critical errors throughout the match and crashed to 28-33 defeat.
