Puneri Paltan maintained composure in a thrilling finish to defeat Dabang Delhi K.C. 6-5 in a tie-breaker after the two teams were tied 38-38 at the end of regulation time in the Pro Kabaddi League in New Delhi on Sunday.
With Pankaj Mohite (7 points) and captain Aslam Inamdar (6) leading from the front, Puneri Paltan rose to the top of the table on points difference after the victory, which was determined in the tenth tie-breaker of the season.
Delhi failed to build on their second-half momentum, and Saurabh Nandal’s High Five and Ajinkya Pawar’s Super 10 were in vain.
Paltan controlled the opening exchanges and, due to quick raids from Mohite and Aditya Shinde, jumped out to a 14–7 lead in just ten minutes.
However, Delhi responded forcefully, with Ajinkya leading a recovery that included an All Out to make the score 21–20 at half-time.
Aslam and Mohit Goyat’s late heroics helped Puneri pull back, forcing a 38-38 stalemate at the end of normal time after Delhi had inflicted a second All Out to lead 32-27.
Aditya Shinde and Mohit Goyat scored important points in the tie-breaker as Puneri repelled Delhi’s late charge to win by a slim margin of 6-5 and move up to the top of the rankings.
