Naveen stars in Dabang’s win
Naveen Kumar picked up another Super 10 as Delhi produced a composed performance to pick up five points and consolidate their stay at the top of the points table
Naveen Kumar once again emerged the hero for Dabang Delhi KC as they beat Gujarat Fortunegiants 34-30 in a VIVO Pro Kabaddi League match at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune on Sunday night.
Naveen Kumar picked up another Super 10 (13th consecutive) as Delhi produced a composed performance, despite being closely challenged in the second half by the Fortunegiants, to pick up five points and consolidate their stay at the top of the points table.
The initial minutes of the match suggested it would be a closely-fought encounter with both defences looking sharp. Ravinder Pahal pulled off two successful tackles for the Delhi side while at the other end Ruturaj Koravi was looking in form. But Naveen Kumar had other plans, as he unlocked the Gujarat defence with a five-point raid in the ninth minute to clinch an AllOut for Delhi.
The restart didn’t bring good fortunes for the Fortunegiants, with their raiders looking rather one-dimensional against a Delhi defence that was slowly growing in stature. The first half ended with Naveen claiming another two-point raid that reduced Gujarat to a single player on the match and gave Delhi an 11-point lead (20-9). Sadly for Delhi, both Meraj Sheykh and Anil Kumar had to substituted due to injuries. Delhi secured their second All-Out in the first move of the second half but the restart marked the revival for last season’s runners-up Fortunegiants. Pankaj, playing in the left corner for Gujarat, ensured Naveen Kumar had no influence in the game, while Rohit Gulia produced a quickfire Super 10 to inflict an AllOut on Delhi (sixth minute of the second half) and reduced the margin. Sachin also got into the act for Gujarat as the team kept pace with the Delhi side. But Naveen’s clinical Super 10 and a dash by Vishal Mane on Gujarat’s Sachin was enough for Delhi to pick up a victory.
PIRATES EASE PAST PALTAN
Later, Pardeep Narwal was the star player for three-time champions Patna Pirates as they beat home team Puneri Paltan 55-33.
The ‘Dubki King’ secured yet another Super 10 (18 raid points) as the Patna Pirates overcame a stiff challenge from Anup Kumar-coached Puneri Paltan to secure their third win on the trot. It wasn’t just Pardeep who rose up to the challenge though, with Neeraj Kumar impressing at the heart of Patna’s defence with a record-equalling 11 tackle points (a record shared with Manjeet Chhillar).
The first half of the match was highly entertaining with both teams throwing caution to the wind in a raid fest. Pune’s young raider Pankaj Mohite was the first to impress with a three-point Super Raid in the fourth minute. But ‘record-breaker’ Pardeep Narwal was in no mood to let Pune’s raiders steal the limelight.
The Patna raider took control of the proceeding as he targeted the Paltan one by one, ably supported in his defence by rejuvenated Neeraj Kumar. The Pirates’ recent run of form (three consecutive wins) have also been largely to the presence of Korean raider Jang Kun Lee who has chipped in with valuable points as a secondary raider when Pardeep is sent to the dugout.