U.P. Yoddha produced a complete performance to beat defending champions Bengal Warriors 40-36 in Match 69 of Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 at The Sheraton Grand, Whitefield, Bengaluru.
The first half was an intense affair with both teams matching blow for blow in the early minutes. But U.P. Yoddha’s defensive pair of Sumit and Nitesh Kumar was in incredible form as they thwarted the Bengal raiders. At the other end, Pardeep Narwal quickly stole points from the Warriors defence to put his team in the lead. But the defending champions showed great resistance to the U.P. dominance by delaying the ALL OUT.
Maninder Singh managed a mini-revival with a three-point Super Raid, but Yoddha kept piling the pressure to eventually clinch that ALL OUT with four minutes to the interval. Their lead was immediately cut short by Maninder’s two-point raid as the half ended 19-18 in Yoddha’s favour.
Yoddha’s defence dominated the early minutes of the second half. Sumit consistently caught the ankle of Bengal’s Maninder Singh as his partner Nitesh Kumar rushed in from the right corner.
Together they were unstoppable and ensured Bengal remained on the backfoot. The trio of raiders – Shrikant Jadhav, Pardeep Narwal and Surender Gill – ensured points kept adding to Yoddha’s tally.
They got their second ALL OUT with eight minutes remaining to open a seven-point lead. Bengal’s Maninder Singh got his Super 10 to ensure they stayed in the hunt despite the two ALL OUTs.
He made it a four-point game with three minutes remaining but substitute Gaurav Kumar’s stunning Super Tackle on him gave Yoddha some breathing space. Their defenders kept calm in the final minute to clinch the win and leapfrog Bengal on the points table.
Featured photo: Pro Kabaddi
