UP Yoddha share points
LUCKNOW: Finally, there was something to cheer about for the hosts UP Yoddha in the Pro Kabaddi League here on Wednesday as they played played out a thrilling 33-33 draw with Tamil Thalaivas, at the Babu Banarasi Das UP Badminton Academy here.
Rishank Devadiga scored 14 raid points for UP Yoddha whereas Ajay Thakur contributed 10 points for Tamil Thalaivas. UP Yoddha are top of the table in Zone B with 25 points after 10 games whereas Thalaivas are bottom of the table with 14 points from six games.
UP Yoddha took a 3-0 lead as Rishank Devadiga scored with a three-point raid in the first minute. It took Tamil Thalalivas four minutes to register their first point as Vineet Kumar made a successful raid.
UP Yoddha didn’t take their foot off the pedal and led 7-2 after five minutes. In the eighth minute UP Yoddha inflicted an all out to lead 12-3. It was Devadiga who was in super raiding form in the first half for the Yoddha. For Tamil Thaliavas, Ajay Kumar was a bit subdued in the first half but Amit Hooda kept their defence going. Tamil Thalaivias trailed 11-19 at the end of the first half.
The Tamil Thaliavas got their act together in the first half as Ajay Thakur found his scoring boots. Thakur scored two raid points in three minutes as Thalaivas trailed 14-19 after 23 minutes. Thakur then helped his team inflict an all out in the 24th minute as Tamil Thalaivas leveled the match at 19-19.
Nitin Tomar scored two points in two minutes as UP Yoddha trailed 21-23 after 29 minutes. Rishank Devadiga scored with a two-point raid as UP Yoddha led 26-24 after 30 minutes. Both teams exchanged a couple of raid and tackle points to level the game at 27-27 after 33 minutes.
With less than three minutes to go UP Yoddha scored a raid and tackle point to lead 32-31. In the last minute it looked like UP Yoddha would hold on but Vineet Kumar made a successful raid in the dying seconds and then Thalaivas scored a tackle point to tie the match at 33-33.
Earlier, Haryana Steelers survived a second half scare as they edged past Dabang Delhi 27-25. Deepak Kumar Dahiya scored seven raid points for Steelers as they made life difficult for themselves.
A disappointing first half performance was the reason why Dabang Delhi lost the match. Dabang Delhi led 2-0 after two minutes as Haryana Steelers were a bit slow to come out of the blocks.
Deepak Kumar Dahiya scored with a two-point raid in the fourth minute as Steelers led 5-3. Haryana Steelers inflicted an all out in the first half as they exerted pressure on Dabang Delhi.
Dabang Delhi raiders found it difficult to get going as they succumbed against Haryana Steelers’ defence. Haryana Steelers led 17-9 at the end of the first half.