Bengal Warriors Vs Puneri Paltan 14 February 2024

Full-Time
Bengal Warriors 26 - 29 Puneri Paltan

It was a valiant 2nd-half effort from the Warriors that ultimately went in vain as defensive errors and an electric Akash Shinde helped Pune just about retain their lead which they took in a whirlwind first 10 minutes.

However, Bengal recovered pretty well from that, with their raiders in particular improving tremendously throughout the match. In the end, though, the two corners Shubham Shinde and Harsh Lad, had only one successful tackle between them, and their inability to keep Akash Shinde and Pankaj Mohite quiet is what cost them. They still have a mathematical chance to make the playoffs, but after this result, them qualifying is looking unlikely.

As for the Paltan, they go back to the top of the table with that result, and to do that without Aslam or Mohit Goyat starting is something they'll be a proud of.

That brings the Bengal leg of PKL 10 to a close, and in less than 48 hours, the action shifts to Panchkula for the Haryana Steelers' home leg, the final one in the group-stage. Until then, this is Shreyas bidding you adieu. Good Night!

2nd Half, 40'
Bengal Warriors 26 - 29 Puneri Paltan

It's a 1v5 situation for Maninder, and he does really well to hurry Gaurav Khatri into making a tackle, bringing the deficit down to 3.

Akash Shinde has a do-or-die raid at the other end, and had Bengal tackled him, they would've had a chance, but Jaskirat Singh makes an error, and that should be that. Akash also gets to his Super 10 with that, a Super 10 of the highest quality.

Mohammadreza Chiyaneh concedes a consolation point to Shubham Shinde on the final raid of the match, and the two defenders share an embrace as the final whistle blows.

A good fightback from the Bengal Warriors, but they didn't do enough to complete the turnaround.

2nd Half, 39'
Bengal Warriors 24 - 28 Puneri Paltan

Vishwas S gets a good point, neatly escaping from Abinesh's dash in a do-or-die raid, but Pune is content to kill time on their raids. It's the raiders who need to make things happen for Bengal.

Pune call for a timeout, and it's now or never for Bengal with two and a half minutes left to play. The captain Aslam Inamdar is subbed on.

2nd Half, 38'
Bengal Warriors 23 - 28 Puneri Paltan

Vishwas S goes into a do-or-die raid, and another rare error from Mohammadreza Chiyaneh, who slips while retreating, gifts the raider with an easy point. 

Akash Shinde then puts in a brilliant raid, with the most aesthetic-looking full-length side-kick on the run on the left corner. What a talent he is!

2nd Half, 35'
Bengal Warriors 22 - 27 Puneri Paltan

The Mohammadreza Chiyaneh ankle hold is out, and this time, Nitin Kumar can't escape from it, and he doesn't even try to.

Bengal are down to three, and Pankaj Mohite goes in for a do-or-die raid, and while Bengal look to have it in control, Vishwas S goes rogue, and he escapes with a two-point raid in the nick of time. Ohh wait! The referees confer and rule that Pankaj steps into the lobby before the touch and award the Super Tackle to Bengal.

Pune review the decision, and this could well decide the fate of the match, but it's unsuccessful, and the deficit is back to 5 for Bengal.

2nd Half, 33'
Bengal Warriors 20 - 26 Puneri Paltan

Nitin Kumar has helped the Bengal Warriors dominate this 2nd half, and the dominance continues as he gets a running hand touch on Abinesh Nadarajan.

However, Pankaj Mohite puts in a crucial raid for the Paltan, escaping with Harsh Lad's attempted challenge with ease, also getting Vaibhav Garje on the way, in a do-or-die raid.

Abinesh Nadarajan once again does it on Maninder Singh, executing a solid block-dash on the Bengal captain, and just like that, Pune are on top.

2nd Half, 31'
Bengal Warriors 19 - 23 Puneri Paltan

Just before the timeout, Maninder puts in a raid, and the Warriors review for a bonus point in that raid immediately after play resumes post the break. It does look like he's cutting the black line, and the 3rd Bengal review is unsuccessful.

2nd Half, 30'
Bengal Warriors 19 - 23 Puneri Paltan

Pankaj Mohite is overzealous in his attempt to tackle Maninder, but the challenge is too close to the mid-line. Akash Shinde continues his exceptional evening with another running hand touch, this time on Vaibhav Garje.

Nitin Kumar has come to life, however, and he uses his pace brilliantly to get the heftiest of touches on the right corner, maintain his footing to stay within bounds and race back to the mid-line. A very antelope-like grace to that move!

Soon, the timeout comes around, and Bengal have done well in the 2nd half. They have the momentum on their side, and with Pune potentially making more substitutions to hand some youngsters more game-time, this match is still within their grasp.

2nd Half, 28'
Bengal Warriors 17 - 21 Puneri Paltan

Pankaj Mohite is still on court for the Paltan, and he gets the bonus with ease, but without getting a revival, they're still down to two. And Nitin Kumar backs himself to get the job done, and he confidently cleans the two defenders up with a wonderful escape, and Bengal hit back with an all-out of their own.

2nd Half, 26'
Bengal Warriors 13 - 20 Puneri Paltan

Akash Shinde claims a touch on the left cover and confidently steps into the lobby, but Bengal review. A successful review could mean a lot to them, but this looks really, really close.

After plenty of inspection, the TV umpire rules it in favor of Bengal, and guess what, Pune are down to two now. Review successful.

2nd Half, 25'
Bengal Warriors 12 - 20 Puneri Paltan

The substitute Dadaso Pujari is too eager with his tackle, and that's not coming off against a beast of a raider like Maninder Singh. However, Akash Shinde continues his wonderful evening against Shubham Shinde in the right corner, this time using the kick to catch him flush in the face to add to his tally.

Ohh, Nitin Kumar does the unthinkable by escaping from a Mohammadreza Chiyaneh ankle hold! A rare error from the Pune left corner.

2nd Half, 23'
Bengal Warriors 10 - 19 Puneri Paltan

Plenty of empty raids to start this half with, but the do-or-die raid eventually arrives, and Maninder Singh is faced with a really tough situation against 4 defenders, but he does well to unsettle Abinesh Nadarajan, who makes the error and steps out of bounds.

With the Paltan down to three, Bengal have a chance for a comeback, but a weak, weak challenge from Jaskirat Singh helps Akash Shinde get away in a do-or-die raid, and he also appears to have gotten Vaibhav Garje as well.

However, Bengal contest the decision with a review, claiming that the raider got only one point, and they may be right here. They are right! It's only the one point.

Half-Time
Bengal Warriors 9 - 18 Puneri Paltan

History will talk about that season when the Puneri Paltan assembled the strongest team this league has ever seen, and guess what, that season is this one! Despite playing without three regular starters, the Paltan has looked as comfortable as ever, completely dominating the Bengal Warriors, who have been absolutely all over the place so far.

Bengal's raiding unit, the highest-scoring one in the league, has looked completely clueless going up against Abinesh Nadarajan, Gaurav Khatri, and Shadloui. Their defense has fared better, and it's they who have kept them in the game.

They don't have long left to save their slim playoff hopes, and they need their captain to come good in the raiding department. Can Maninder deliver? Let's find out in this 2nd half.

1st Half, 20'
Bengal Warriors 9 - 18 Puneri Paltan

Gaurav Khatri attempts an ambitious challenge on Vishwas S in a do-or-die raid, and it comes back to hurt him as he's adjudged to have indulged in jersey pulling to overcompensate for the challenge.

At the other end, Akash Shinde has a do-or-die raid, and he's initially given out as he goes back to his half without the touch point. However, he's confident he has a bonus and after a quick conference, they award it.

On the stroke of that raid, the whistle blows for half-time, and a half-strength Puneri Paltan have scored double the points of the hosts Bengal Warriors.

1st Half, 18'
Bengal Warriors 8 - 17 Puneri Paltan

It's a do-or-die raid for Nitin Kumar and his torrid night continues as Pankaj Mohite gets a solid block on the young raider, who's going nowhere. At the other end, Vaibhav Garje flies in with a mighty dash to throw Pankaj off court. A bit of payback for that tackle maybe?

1st Half, 16'
Bengal Warriors 7 - 16 Puneri Paltan

Finally, the Paltan defense gets one wrong and it's the left cover Vaibhav Kamble who can't overpower Vishwas S, who simply brushes him aside to get to the mid-line. At the other end, Aditya Shinde loses his footing, steps into the lobby and gifts a point away.

1st Half, 14'
Bengal Warriors 5 - 16 Puneri Paltan

Abinesh Nadarajan, you absolute beast! The right cover bulldozed Maninder Singh off the court with a mighty block-dash that's the best of his three tackle points so far. He's been one of their best players this season, but then again, who isn't? Ohh, a point each is awarded as Abinesh is adjudged to also go out of bounds, but he won't mind.

At the other end, Pankaj Mohite toys with Harsh Lad and draws a premature ankle hold that he easily escapes from in a do-or-die raid.

1st Half, 12'
Bengal Warriors 4 - 14 Puneri Paltan

Finally, the Warriors have something to cheer for, and it's Harsh Lad they have to thank for it. The left corner is swift to get to Akash Shinde with a solid block to get two points for the Super Tackle. Can they build on this momentum?

1st Half, 10'
Bengal Warriors 2 - 14 Puneri Paltan

Nitin Kumar bites the dust once again, and it's Abinesh Nadarajan who fearlessly goes in with a block-dash and the rest of the defense unquestioningly joins him in support. The timeout comes around soon after, and damn do the Warriors need this! They're being torn apart by the Paltan and their faint playoffs hopes are fading away quickly.

1st Half, 9'
Bengal Warriors 2 - 13 Puneri Paltan

The Pune captain for the night, Shadloui, gets his opposite number with another pitch-perfect ankle hold, and at this point, you'd think he's getting a High 5 every game.

Pankaj Mohite opens his account, escaping from Vaibhav Garje's fractionally late dash. Akash Shinde follows that up with a wonderful escape on the right side, using the lobby to perfection to get away with two points.

1st Half, 7'
Bengal Warriors 1 - 9 Puneri Paltan

Akash Shinde is very confident in claiming a toe touch on Vaibhav Garje in a Super Tackle situation, but the point it isn't given.

It doesn't matter much, however, as Nitin Kumar is single-handedly taken down by a Shadloui ankle hold, and he makes it look so easy does the Iranian. Aditya Shinde opens his account for the night with an easy point in a 1v2 situation, and Vaibhav Garje pretty much surrenders to the Pune defense and they get the first all-out for a match with ease.

This Pune team that's nowhere close to full strength are blowing away the Warriors here. They need to buck up.

1st Half, 4'
Bengal Warriors 0 - 4 Puneri Paltan

Pankaj Mohite is such a quick raider, and he shows off his speed in his very first raid, forcing Shubham Shinde to make an error by stepping out of bounds. Bengal is then faced with a do-or-die raid, and Vishwas S is thrown in. However, Abinesh Nadarajan's block is well-timed, and while it's a bit scrappy, it's a very efficient tackle.

The Warriors down to three now.

1st Half, 2'
Bengal Warriors 0 - 2 Puneri Paltan

Akash Shinde first up for the Paltan, and the left raider does not miss, with Harsh Lad making an ill-advised challenge too close to the mid-line.

However, what happened at the other end is much more interesting. You normally don't win a 1v1 battle with Maninder Singh, but that's just what Gaurav Khatri does in the right corner with the most powerful of blocks, and with support coming in from the new left cover Vaibhav Kamble, the Bengal captain pays a visit to the bench.

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Team News

Here are the two sides' respective starting lineups:

Bengal Warriors: Maninder Singh (C), Harsh Lad, Nitin Kumar, Vishwas S, Shubham Shinde, Vaibhav Garje, and Jaskirat Singh.

Puneri Paltan: Mohammadreza Chiyaneh (C), Akash Shinde, Aditya Shinde, Pankaj Mohite, Gaurav Khatri, Abinesh Nadarajan, and Vaibhav Kamble.

Well, the Paltan have rested their key players for this encounter, with Sanket Sawant not in the matchday squad, and both Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat on the bench. That means opportunities for the young Aditya Shinde in the raiding department, while Vaibhav Kamble gets a game at left cover.

Bengal remain unchanged from their last outing.

Preview

Good evening and a warm welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of PKL 10. We have the final game of the Kolkata leg up next, with the hosts Bengal Warriors raring to take on the Puneri Paltan at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

This is a must-win game for the Warriors if they are to stay in the hunt to make the playoffs this season, and a win against their opponents isn't an easy task as only two other teams have managed it throughout this campaign. The Warriors bounced back from a defeat to the Gujarat Giants on the first day of the home leg to win back-to-back games against the Telugu Titans and U Mumba, and they certainly have the momentum and the firepower to cause the Paltan some problems.

However, Aslam Inamdar's side has had a habit of blowing away pretty much any opponent they face, and they did beat Bengal by a 30-point margin when the two sides met a couple of months ago. They don't have a lot riding on this after sealing a top two finish, but finishing the group stage as the table toppers will definitely give them a confidence boost.

With a lot riding on this for the home side, you can certainly expect them to make this a riveting contest that I, Shreyas, will take you through. Team news and more to follow.