Bengaluru: Patna Pirates maintained their winning run as they defeated Gujarat Giants 27-26 in the Vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 at the Sheraton Grand Whitefield Bengaluru on Saturday.
In a closely contested match, Pirates once again proved their supremacy in the field and prevailed over Giants by a sleek margin. However, Giants tried hard to get past the Pirates in the last minute of the match, even appealed for a review when their raider Rakesh felt that he had touch Mohammadreza Shadloui on his way back, but the replays showed it was only a one-point raid.
The Giants must have thought they managed a tie when Rakesh picked the point in the dying seconds, but it was Pirates’ defenders who ensured the team got all 5 points.
The first half was slightly tilted towards the Pirates with their raiders, Monu Goyat, Prashanth Kumar Rai and Sachin picking up points. Prashanth produced a magic with his agility, opened score for Pirates. However, it was not as usual start for the Pirates as the Giants defence was not giving much space, forcing opposition to play cautiously.
Monu Goyat kick-started the proceeding for the Pirates, however Giants defence was too strong and drew the first blood. Giants’ Girish Ernak in the very first raid held on Monu Goyat and star raider was quickly sent out of scene.
But the three-time champions Pirates didn’t waste too much time and inflicted the game’s first ALL OUT in the 15 th minute to take the lead. Mohammadreza Shadloui and Sajin were once again having a good day in the defence as Giants’ raiders struggled to find an opportunity.
With Rakesh Narwal, Sunil Kumar, Parvesh Bhainswal all were trying hard to get the momentum for Giants, but they couldn’t match the athleticism and teamwork of the Pirates defence. After the end of the half time the score was 15-13 in favour of Pirates. But the Giants weren’t willing to let this match go, and they found the much-needed motivation in their defence.
Rakesh Narwal got Mohammadreza Shadloui for a while and finally got him out with a smart hand touch. Girish Ernak diving double thigh holds gave them the impetus to thwart the Pirates attack. The Giants’ raiders absorbed that confidence as well with Ajay Kumar, Rakesh and Shubham Shinde forced Monu Goyat to go back to the bench. Earlier Prashanth headed in for the do-or-die raid and gifted a point to Parvesh. The Gujarat Giants defender went in way too early and gave away a point.
However, Monu Goyat produced a crucial 2-point for the team before Prashanth K Rai got better off Girish Ernak and picked up another point of the game.
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