Bengal Warriors climbed to the second spot in the Pro Kabaddi season 4 table courtesy a 31-23 win over last season's whipping boys Dabang Delhi. Meraj Sheykh top scored with 9 points, but he was the only Dabang player to put up a fight as a Ravi Dalal-inspired Warriors got their first win of the season.
Delhi’s raid star, Kashiling Adake and company took on the Bengal Warriors on day 3 of the Mumbai leg. As expected, Adake opened the proceedings taking out Vishal Mane in his very first raid. At the other end, Lee was sent back to the bench as Delhi took a 2-0 lead. But some clever raiding from Nitin Madane brought the warriors back into the game as they suddenly took a 3-2 lead.
Kashiling failed to get the better of the Bengal defence, second time around courtesy a well-executed team tackle. Monu Goyat then made a couple of clever hand touches to give Bengal a 5-3 lead. The Warriors looked attentive in defence not giving the opposition an inch. Lee picked up a quick raid point as he cartwheeled his way to his half in style. Bengal maintained their 2-point lead. Delhi were down to two at this stage with 8 minutes remaining in the first half.
Monu then took out Anil Kumar leaving new signee, Meraj Sheykh alone on the mat. But he wasn’t unnerved as he sent two Bengal players to the bench. Kashiling levelled the scores at 9-9 in the 14th minute. His quick feet ensured he weaved his way out of Bengal’s tackle.
Adake was then instantly taken down to reduce his side to two with two minutes remaining. Lee made the most of it and took out Suresh Kumar leaving Iranian, Meraj stranded on the mat once more. His crafty two-point raid and the super tackle that followed ensured Delhi didn’t suffer an all-out in the first half.
HT- Bengal Warriors 13-14 Dabang Delhi
Bengal began the second half without Lee who suffered an injury post one of his raids. The second half began with three empty raids before Delhi’s Deepak Narwal was sent to the bench. And once again it was Meraj Sheikh unaccompanied on the mat for the third time. And once again he managed to get a point in a tense situation.
Delhi were holding on for dear life. But they produced an immaculate super tackle to take a surprise 17-15 lead. Buoyed, former Telugu man, Prashant Kumar picked up a raid point blazing though Bengal’s defence. It was now 4 versus 4. Kashiling was then tackled in a do or die raid before Meraj produced a weak tackle. Soon Delhi were down to one as the scores were level at 18 points each with ten minutes remaining.
The Warriors finally inflicted an all-out and took a 21-18 lead. That was long due. Bengal continued with some sturdy defending as they led 24-20 with four minutes remaining. Delhi’s, Deepak Narwal was trying incessantly to get bonus points but to no avail. The Warriors took an unassailable 27-20 lead and bounced back from their previous loss to the Bulls to pick up their first victory of the season. But not before inflicting another all out on the capital side in the dying seconds.
FT- Bengal Warriors 31-23 Dabang Delhi
