Host Telugu Titans tame Bengaluru Bulls

Dabang Delhi K.C. riding on a brilliant performance from Ashu Malik,overcame a strong challenge of former champions U Mumba 36-28 in their  opening league match of the ongoing 11^th edition of the  Pro Kabaddi League that was played at the at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad on Friday night.  

The two teams were engaged in a close battle from the onset, with neither team able to take away a run away early lead. Ashu Malik led the charge for Dabang Delhi K.C. while Ajit Chavan scored the most points for the U Mumba side in the early exchanges. 

A short while later Ashu Malik inflicted an ALL-OUT on U Mumba and helped the Dabang Delhi K.C. take a 4-point lead midway through the first-half and maintained the lead for the rest of the half. Dabang Delhi K.C. who led U Mumba by 4 points (19-15) at the halfway stage, with  Ashu scoring 6 points for the Delhi based outfit.

The second half saw the Dabang Delhi K.C. side further consolidate their position in the contest. In the first phase of the second half, Ashu continued to increase his points tally with relative ease. But midway through the second half, the U Mumba side threatened to fight back with Ajit Chavan scoring his Super 10. He had immense support in the form of Amirmohammad Zafardanesh. 

With 10 minutes to go in the contest, the Dabang Delhi K.C. side which led by 6-point at this stage faced a strong challenge from their rivals in the final phase of play. An all-round performance (raiding and defending) by U Mumba’s Amirmohammad helped his team reduce the deficit. However, the late charge wasn’t enough for U Mumba as Ashu Malik registered his first Super 10 of the season, helping his side walk off with the win in the second game on the opening night. For U Mumba, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh finished with 11 points to his name while Ajit Chavan too was up to the task by contributing 10 points on a losing cause.

Earlier in the opening match of the PKL Season 11 host Telugu Titans powered by an excellent show by their dynamic captain Pawan Sehrawat tamed Bengaluru Bulls by a scoreline of 37-29 at the same venue.

Pawan who registered the first raid point and went onto add a couple of more saw the host take a three-point early lead early. But a few minutes later, Pardeep Narwal ensured Bengaluru Bulls fight back and reduced the lead to just one-point. At the half-way stage, the Telugu Titans, cheered on by a packed house, took an impressive 9 points (20-11) lead against Bengaluru Bulls.

Showcasing fine form Surinder Dehal and Pardeep inflicted an ALL-OUT on the Telugu Titans, midway through the second phase. With 10 minutes to go, the deficit was down to one point, with the score reading 24-23.

From then on though, the Telugu Titans fought back. Pawan reached the 10-point mark and had the likes of Krishan, Vijay Malik, Sagar, and Ajit Pawar giving him ample support. Within the next few minutes, the Telugu Titans wrestled back the momentum, and marched into a 7-point lead.  Moments after completing his Super 10, Pawan Sehrawat breached the 1200-point mark, to become the third ever player in the history of the PKL to achieve the milestone.

PKL Season 11 Schedule For Saturday, 19 October, 2024:   

Match 1 - Telugu Titans Vs Tamil Thalaivas – 8pm
Match 2 - Puneri Paltan Vs Haryana Steelers – 9 pm 

Photo Action: U Mumba raider takes an aerial route while attempting to escape the clutches of Dabang Delhi K.C defenders in the ongoing PKL Season 11