Pawan Sehrawat's 15-point performance and a last-minute two-point raid by South Korean Dong-Geon Lee achieved victory for the Bulls.
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Bengaluru Bulls overcame defending champions Bengal Warriors 36-35 in a tight Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 encounter on Sunday. Pawan Sehrawat’s 15-point performance and a last-second two-point raid by South Korean Dong-Geon Lee achieved victory for the Bulls. Bengal have no one but themselves to blame after skipper Maninder Singh scored 17 points to get them off to a solid start. However, Abozar Mighani’s errors proved too expensive for the Season 7 champions. In a high-scoring first half in which the Bulls matched the Warriors all the way, Maninder Singh and Pawan Sehrawat made it a day to remember with brilliant raids.
Bengal were the offensive of the two in the early stages, with Maninder strength posing a significant challenge to the Bengaluru defence, as they found it difficult to contain this threat. The raider executed a tremendous Super Raid in the eighth minute of the game, taking out four Bulls defenders and clinching the defending champs’ first all-out of the game. Maninder secured his Super 10 in the first half as well.
Despite being down by eight points, Bengaluru refused to let their heads drop and gradually managed to gain control. Pawan Sehrawat, who spent about 8 minutes of the first 15 in the dugout, showed his class as a top raider with 7-points (5+2 points for a Super Raid) to wipe away the Warriors defence for an all-out close to half-time. The first half concluded 18-17 in favour of the Bulls.
Naveen Express ke tez tarrar raids ⚡, Hi-Flyer ki udaan✈️ aur Super-Mani ke superpowers??♂️
Here’s Day 5️⃣ of #SuperhitPanga in??
Enjoy these and log on to https://t.co/cfORnUSbcf for more#SuperhitPanga #GGvDEL #BLRvBEN #vivoProKabaddi pic.twitter.com/MKQP5RbWOl
— ProKabaddi (@ProKabaddi) December 26, 2021
With the Indian women’s Kabaddi team watching from the fan wall, Mohammad Nabibakhsh assured Pawan Sehrawat started the second half with an unsuccessful raid. Bengal, though, failed to capitalise, and Pawan returned not long after to get his Super 10. Competing in his maiden PKL season, Aman delivered a spectacular ankle hold on Maninder, reducing Bengal to just two men on the mat.
The Bulls got their all out in the 12th minute of the half to make the score 28-21, but Bengal soon fought back. Maninder gained two points in a raid, while Nabibakhsh earned a raid point before successfully tackling Pawan Sehrawat.
The Iranian all-rounder led the Warriors’ push that resulted in another all-out with five minutes remaining, cutting the Bulls’ advantage to one point (31-30). Bulls coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat, on the other hand, made a clever move by bringing in Dong-Geon Lee. The South Korean scored a 2-point raid by targeting Bengal’s right corner. The Warriors were only able to score one point in the final raid, causing them to lose the match by the slimmest of margins.
A last-second error by experienced defender Ravinder Pahal allowed Dabang Delhi’s Naveen Kumar to secure a raid point and tie Gujarat Lions 24-24 in the Pro Kabaddi League on Sunday. Delhi’s star raider once again secured a Super 10 (11 points), his third in three Season 8 matches – but the team was fortunate to escape with a tie after another game marred by defensive gaffes.
Gujarat will only have themselves to blame after Rakesh Sanrogya and Rakesh Narwal gave them a chance to beat the Season 7 runners-up. Despite the focus on Gujarat’s defence, the raiders scored the most points for the Giants in a close first half.
