PBL 2018: Sameer Verma stuns HS Prannoy as Mumbai Rockets defeated Delhi Dashers 5-0

Sameer Verma
Sameer Verma

The second tie of PBL season 4 featured last year's runners-up Mumbai Rockets square off against season 2 champions Delhi Dashers.

Lee Yong Dae of Korea represented Mumbai Rockets whereas HS Prannoy of India represented Delhi Dashers.

The first match of the tie featured icon player of Mumbai Rockets Lee Yong Dae along with Kim Gi Jung up against the duo of Chao Biao and Wang Sijie. Mumbai Rockets placed trump card on this match. The only thing that separated both the sides was the presence of Lee Yong Dae.

Lee clearly lived up to the expectations as he and Kim won the match 14-15,15-12, 15-9 to give Mumbai Rockets a 2-0 lead over Delhi Dashers.

The second match of the tie featured Danish rising star Anders Antonsen up against Indonesian veteran Tommy Sugiarto.

Tommy Sugiarto is the highest sold Non-Icon player as Delhi Dashers bought him for ₹ 70 lakh. But he failed to match up the relentless attack and lighting speed of Antonsen as he lost the match 13-15, 7-15. With this win, Mumbai team increased their lead to 3-0.

The third match of the tie was second men's singles of the day as it featured HS Prannoy up against the in-form Sameer Verma.

2018 had not been a good year for Prannoy as he struggled due to various injuries throughout the year, on the other hand, Sameer Verma had won two Super 300, one Super 100 titles and also reached the semifinals of Bwf world tour finals 2018 to finish the year on a career-high ranking of no. 12.

HS Prannoy had a 7-0 win-loss record in PBL. But in-form Sameer Verma shattered this unbeaten run of Prannoy quite easily as he won the match 15-14, 15-9. With this win, Mumbai Rockets confirmed their victory over Delhi Dashers with a 4-0 lead.

The fourth match of the tie featured Mumbai Rockets icon player Lee Yong Dae teaming up with Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth in the mixed doubles encounter up against the duo of Maneepong Jongjit and Lee Chia Hsin.

Lee Yong Dae
Lee Yong Dae

Lack of Coordination between Pia and Lee Yong helped Jongjit and Lee Chia to clinch the first victory for their team as they won the match 15-14, 15-12.

The fifth match of the day was the women's singles encounter in which Delhi Dashers placed their trump card on Evegeniya Kosetskaya. Up against her was the young Indian Shriyanshi Pardeshi.

To the surprise of many, Shriyanshi put on a brilliant performance to stun her higher-ranked tall opponent to win the match 12-15, 15-8, 15-10.

Due to losing this trump match, Delhi Dashers gained -1 and as a result, lost the tie by 0-5.

There will be two ties on December 23. The second tie of the day will feature Saina Nehwal led North Eastern Warriors up against the Viktor Axelsen led Ahmedabad Smash Masters.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari