The action shifted to Sawai
Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. It was a Super Sunday like never before as Jaipur
Pink Panthers faced the Patna Pirates in their first home game this season. Looking
to get back their lost form of Pro Kabaddi League Season 1, Jaipur Pink
Panthers went into this match on the back of 2 consecutive defeats. This was a
match of Patna Pirates’ attack vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers’ defense. History
suggested a high-scoring encounter between these two sides but the present didn’t
suggest it. Jaipur Pink Panthers went into the break leading 11-10. This looked
a cagey affair as no one was giving the other room for movement on the famed
Kabaddi mat. The second half was a much more open encounter as both teams
battled to edge out each other. Jasvir Singh stepped up again for Jaipur Pink
Panthers and was very aptly supported by Rajesh Narwal in attack but it was not
enough as Patna Pirates managed to grind out a 23-29 win. Their captain, Rakesh
Kumar, led from the front earning a total of 8 points with Sandeep Narwal
supporting him in attack as well as defense. It was the same story for the home
side as it all unraveled for them in the last 5 minutes of the game. Pakistani
defender Waseem Sajjad was a big no-show on the night.
If the first match was interesting, the contest
between U Mumba and Telegu Titans was a must watch. 5-star raider Anup Kumar
started things off but returned empty handed. At 1-1, Deepak Nivas Hudda came
in for a do-or-die-raid but was no match for the combination of Surinder Nada
and Vishal Mane as they slammed him on the ground. Rishank Devadiga has quietly
earned himself the title of a do-or-die-raid specialist for U Mumba and added
another 2 points to his kitty from it. At 10-6 in favour of Telegu Titans,
Pawan Kumar stepped in to prevent an all-out for his side and revive a few of
his team-mates. As a substitute for Shabeer Bapu last season, he did well for
himself. But this was not the case as Deepak Nivas Hudda caught him in an ankle
hold which earned Telegu Titans 3 points as a result of a U Mumba all-out. When
the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is perfectly applicable to Anup
Kumar who always steps up for U Mumba when they are down. This was the case
when they trailed 15-8 and Anup Kumar earned 2 points in a brilliant raid to
reduce the margin. The first half ended as Telegu Titans lead 17-11. Majority
of that lead can be contributed to Telegu Titans keeping Shabeer Bapu quiet. Anup
Kumar has this knack of standing up for his team in crucial situations and was
once again doing the same when U Mumba trailed 14-20.
Going up against all 7
Telegu Titans’ defenders, he managed to squeeze out a crucial 2 points and
thereby reduced the gap to 4. With the scores at 24-23 in favour of Telegu
Titans, the last 5 minutes looked poised for heroes in the making. Well, it was
a Gladiator, Anup Kumar who stepped up and took another 2 points to give his side
the lead by a single point thanks to a successful review. Into the last minute
and Sukesh Hegde raided for his side. He earned a point and reduced Telegu
Titans’ trail to a point. Shabeer Bapu had 12 unsuccessful raids on the night
and was sent in to raid. Oh what a raid it was as he managed to squeeze out a
touch point to increase U Mumba’s lead to 2 points. Sukesh Hegde stepped up
again and managed a solitary point but it was all over for his side as U Mumba
squeezed out a 27-26 win. Anup Kumar was the star of this match earning 9 very
important raid points.
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