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Patna Pirates got their first win of the home leg and second of the tournament by defeating Dabang Delhi 39-22 in front of a packed Patliputra Sports Complex. The Patna Pirates started without their captain Rakesh Kumar as Sandeep Narwal deputised for the Indian international. If there were any doubts on how the Pirates would perform in the absence of their posterboy, they were dispelled in the first half as the Pirates got their opponents all out twice in the first half.
Deepak Narwal and Ravi Dalal got the first two points for the home side, but Rohit Kumar Chaudhary returned with a super raid as Dabang Delhi took the lead 3-2 after the 3rd minute. The Pirates broke free after the 7th minute when the score was tied at 4-4. Helped by their makeshift captain Sandeep Narwal, Deepak Narwal, Ravi Dalal and a brilliant defensive effort by the whole team, the team from Bihar, inflicted the first all out in the 11th minute as the scoreline read 12-6.
Despite the revival of the teams, the Patna Pirates carried on the momentum they had gathered so far as they took just 4 minutes to get Dabang Delhi all out for the second time in the match. The scoreboard was a pleasant sight for the home crowd as their team led 21-7 with 5 minutes left in the half.
The home side ensured they did not let the Dabangs make a comeback in the match as they sealed off the half leading 24-8 and set themselves up for the biggest win of the tournament so far. Honnappa C Gowda had a massive task on his hand to inspire his side after a lacklustre half, where they made 0 successful tackles.
The Dabangs failed to stage a comeback
The away team improved their performance in the second half, but were still no match for the dominating home side. The Dabangs got their first tackle point in the 24th minute when they trapped Ravi Dalal. Delhi coach brought on raider Dong Ju Hong to change the complexion of the match, but the South Korean was sent back in his first raid by the strong Pirates defence.
The home side were not disappointed in the second half either as the Pirates continued their good run and in the 30th minute, led by 15 points (30-15). The only blemish in their performance was when defender Sunil Kumar was shown a yellow card with 5 minutes to go in the match. This meant that he would spend 2 official minutes out of the game.
The Dabangs failed to make the most of it, though, as the home side closed in on their first win of the second season of at home. The match ended soon after with the scoreline reading 39-22 in Patna’s favour. It was a team performance from the Pirates, but Deepak Narwal took over the responsibility of scoring, in the absence of Rakesh Kumar.
The home side will now face Puneri Paltan tomorrow, while Dabang Delhi face the indomitable U Mumba before the home side’s match.
Man of the match: Deepak Narwal
