In Friday’s high-scoring Pro Kabaddi League match at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, the Patna Pirates defeated the Bengal Warriorz 51-49.
This season’s highest total of 100 points was scored in the game. Additionally, it was the third time in PKL history that two raiders scored more than 20 points in a single game, with Ayan and Devank each scoring more than 20 points.
Devank Dalal, who scored 25 points and accumulated 250 raid points this season, was surpassed by Ayan Lohchab, who scored 27 points, the maximum points scored by a player this season.
The Bengal Warriorz captain scored more than 20 points in a game for the fourth time this season. With four points, substitute Milan Dahiya played a vital role for the Pirates.
The primary raiders got off to a quick start, with Devank and Ayan opening the scoring for their teams. With a two-point raid by Ankit Rana and a tackle from Balaji D, the Pirates quickly put their noses in front.
The Pirates led by seven points as Ayan punished the Warriorz with the game’s first ALL OUT after a Super Tackle kept them in the game.
On the raiding end, Bengal Warriorz responded with tackles from Parteek and Devank and Himanshu Narwal, who kept the scoreboard moving.
But before long, it was becoming the Devank-Ayan combat, with both raiders performing their own specialties. Ankit’s tackle on Ayan provided the Warriorz a brief reprieve and reduced the gap to four points.
Himanshu Narwal started the game with a two-point raid, and the Season 7 winners roared back. His team executed their first ALL OUT and took the lead thanks to a tackle from Ashish Malik and a multi-point raid by Devank. With a 26-23 lead at the end of an exciting first half, the skipper also accomplished his 15th consecutive Super 10.
Bengal Warriorz took the lead thanks to a barrage of Super Tackles, despite Ayan and Ankit Rana’s best efforts to rally their team.
In addition to Ashish Malik, Ankit scored two Super Tackles to increase their team’s lead to six points. The Warriorz then led by nine points with ten minutes remaining after Manjeet added a fourth Super Tackle to that total.
But the Pirates weren’t prepared to give up just yet. They had a chance for an ALL OUT after Milan Dahiya’s two-point raid and a crucial tackle by Ankit Jaglan. With seven minutes remaining, it was down to a four-point game after Ayan gladly accepted that.
Devank kept his team in the hunt with a handful of points as the game was coming to a close. He forced Ayan to make a Do-Or-Die raid on the last raid, reducing the game to a one-point contest.
Ayan won the match-winning raid point after the Warriorz captain made the expensive mistake of trying to tackle his old teammate, giving the Patna Pirates a slim two-point victory.
