City
Epaper

PKL 7: Bengaluru, Delhi play out enthralling draw

By IANS | Updated: September 24, 2019 00:00 IST

Bengaluru Bulls and Dabang Delhi drew 39-39 in a closely fought Pro Kabaddi League Season 7 contest at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Monday.

Open in App

Delhi were in the lead for most part of the match but a late comeback by the Bulls, courtesy Pawan Sehrawat, saw both sides settle for a tie.

Delhi's Naveen Kumar finished with 14 raid points (his 15th consecutive Super 10) but will rue missing out on a chance to put in a legal raid in the final move of the match to clinch a win for the Delhi, who still remain on top of the table.

The match was billed as the clash of the league's best raiders in Delhi's Naveen Kumar and Pawan Sehrawat of Bulls, but the early minutes proved why both of these raiders were just a significant part of a larger unit in a team sport.

The defence of both teams looked ready for the challenge as both traded blows in the initial minutes. But a slightly more balanced Delhi unit allowed Naveen Kumar more time on the mat with quick revivals and the 19-year-old secured 8 raid points to clinch an All-Out in the last minute of the half to give Delhi the lead.

Rohit Kumar's absence due to an injury played a key role in Bulls' relatively poor showing in raids even though the team benefited heavily when three Delhi defenders were adjudged out of bounds with under 3 minutes left for half time. The first half ended 22-20 with Delhi on top.

Naveen continued his good work in the early minutes of the second half. The 19-year-old raider secured his Super 10 as Delhi inflicted another All-Out on the Bulls in the 9th minute of the second half to move to a 10-point lead.

But the All-Out brought about the revival of Sehrawat on the mat. Bulls' standby captain upped his game and quickly secured an All-Out for the defending champions with under 7 minutes left on the clock.

Both Naveen and Sehrawat were sent to the bench with under three minutes left with the scores tied at 36-36. But Delhi sniffed victory after a tackle and a raid point gave them a two-point cushion going into the final minute.

But a careless tackle by Vishal Mane, followed by Naveen's failure to cross the white line to complete a legal raid, helped Bulls clinch an unlikely tie.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: delhiPawan SehrawatRohit Kumar
Open in App

Related Stories

EntertainmentRandeep Hooda and Lin Laishram Join Archery Premier League as Co-Owners of Delhi's Prithviraj Yodhas

NationalDelhi: Food Delivery Worker Bullied in Narela, Drunken Customer Misbehaves with Police

NationalZubeen Garg Death Probe: Festival Organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Manager Siddhartha Sharma Arrested in Delhi, Brought to Guwahati

NationalIndiGo's Mumbai-Delhi Flight Gets Bomb Threat; Full Emergency Declared At IGI Airport

NationalDelhi News: Three Killed in Suspected Hit-and-Run Accident in Jahangirpuri

Other Sports Realted Stories

Other SportsSix Asian teams gear up for Road to FIFA WC 26 Playoffs epic battles

Other SportsWomen’s World Cup: Hopefully we can keep Wolvaardt quiet, says Knight

Other Sports'It was meant to highlight challenges...', Sana Mir clarifies 'Azad Kashmir' remark after backlash

Other SportsWomen’s WC: Sciver-Brunt backing England’s spin attack to start campaign with a win

Other SportsMirabai Chanu wins silver medal in 49kg at World Weightlifting Championships