Match 10 of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi between Jaipur Pink Panthers and Bengaluru Bulls ended in a nerve wrecking tie as Jaipur Pink Panthers pulled off a stunning comeback to level the scores 28-28 of a match that looked at one point in the Bulls’ bag. Bengaluru Bulls’ still remain winless at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur against the Panthers
Jasvir Singh won the toss for Jaipur and chose the court for the second consecutive time in two days.
Raider Rohit Kumar started the proceedings and helped Bulls open the account. Mohit Chillar then brought down the Panthers captain to ensure Jasvir started the match on a similar note as he did the last night. Jasvir Singh was particularly troubled by Mohit Chillar in the first half of the match.
A lot was expected of Shabeer Bapu who was up against his Mumbai teammates Surender Nada and Mohit Chillar. But the shouts of ‘Shabeer Shabeer’ in the crowd couldn’t help the ex-Mumbai raider to find his magical touch that wowed everyone in the first three seasons and of which he showed signs in the first game against U Mumba. Vinod Kumar did the bulk of the raiding for Bengaluru Bulls in the first half and wasn’t tackled even once in the first half to finish with 4 points. He was ably supported by star raider Rohit Kumar.
Rohit Kumar and Mohit Chillar couldn’t get their act together when they allowed Mahipal Narwal in the 3rd minute to go back with a successful raid to help the men in pink open the account. The raid also weakened the Bulls considerably as both the teams were left with 4 men on the mat. In the 6th minute, Jasvir Singh was up against the 4 defenders in a do or die raid but showed his class as he still managed to get a point.
Deepak Dahiya helped revive Surender Nada and his men with a successful do die raid in the 14th minute and Bengaluru Bulls was back to their full strength. In the very next minute, the first All Out of the match was inflicted on Jaipur Pink Panthers with three minutes left before half-time and Bulls had suddenly a 5 point lead to show against their name. The deficit was reduced when Rohit Kumar’s do or die raid was foiled and Jasvir Singh got the better of Mohit Chillar in Panthers’ do or die raid, leaving the margin at half-time just of 3 points.
Half Time: Bengaluru Bulls 14 – 11 Jaipur Pink Panthers
Bengaluru Bulls extended the lead in the first two minutes after half-time, leaving the Panthers again with just 4 men on the mat. Shabeer Bapu finally got his first point of the match in the 24th minute. But the domination continued as the second all out in the 26th minute meant that the Panthers had a mountain to climb. The Bulls were running away with a 11 point and scored 9 points in a period of 5 minutes.
Jasvir Singh’s raid in the 20th minute then sent two Bulls men out and also helped Panthers pull things back with valuable two points. Amit Hooda made a vicious tackle to add another point in the next minute, leaving Bengaluru Bulls with 4 men. Jasvir reduced the deficit with another successful raid and for once it looked they would mount an impressive comeback. Jasvir Singh, just like last night, had picked up pace after a slow start. And he even was coming on top in the battle with Mohit Chillar in the second half.
The Bulls still had a 7 point lead going into the last 10 minutes but were staring at an All Out and it didn’t take too long for Jaipur to inflict the All Out on Bengaluru Bulls. Jaipur were suddenly running away with the affairs with 9 points in a matter of 5 minutes. Panthers were in a hot pursuit now with just a 3 point gap separating the two teams with 5 minutes left.
However, the Bulls knew that the three point difference was still a comfortable cushion going into the last few minutes and were playing the waiting game. But Jasvir Singh and Rajesh Narwal had other plans and were hell bent on keeping their fortress safe against the Bulls. It all came down to the last raid by Rohit Kumar when the Panthers were still a point behind the Bulls, but living up to their franchise’s name, the Jaipur players leapt on the raider to get the one point that would draw the match. Thus, ended the second tie of the season and a thoroughly enjoyable match.
Full Time: Bengaluru Bulls 28 – 28 Jaipur Pink Panthers
