Kabaddi Masters Dubai 2018 Semifinal: Iran vs Pakistan, Live Match Updates

Iran's dominance in this competition continues as they have now made it to the finals stage, where they will either face India or South Korea and will certainly prove to be more than just stiff competition in the finals with the all-round strength in the team.

That's it from the first semi-final between Iran and Pakistan! Shift tabs to follow all the exciting action between India and South Korea in the second semifinal of the day!

The Iranians, led by Nabibakhsh's agile raiding and Mohammad Maghsoudlou's smart raiding completely decimated a listess Pakistan outfit, which seemed out of sorts in the absence of regular skipper Nasir Ali, who did not feature in the game owing to an injury.

Mohammad Malak enjoyed an outstanding game from the left corner and made matters worse for the Pakistan raiders, who could not find their feet right through the contest highlighted by lead raider Muhammad Nadeem's inability to get his tally going.

Iran win comprehensively 40-21 and qualify for the finals of the Kabaddi Masters 2018!

Pakistan did not show teeth during the entire squad which helped Iran to run away with the contest right from the first minute after Mohammad Nabibakhsh started with a super raid.

A SUPER RAID to finish the contest for Waqar Ali and Pakistan.

Goes past the ankle hold from Mohammad Malak and then dived towards the mid-line as he benefitted from an advance tackle from the Iranian chain to finish with a super raid. All in vain.

THIRD ALL-OUT on Pakistan!

The raider did manage to get a touch on the final defender left on the mat for Pakistan and the defender ran away to the benches but the Iranian did well to run the clock down and add salt on the wounds.

Absolutely clinical from Iran! Mohammad Paeghi runs around the chain tackle from the Pakistan defenders, picks just the one touch point and enjoys a little jig at the mid-line.

Iran comfortable lead 35-17 with just over three minutes to go in the competition.

Rookie error from the Pakistan raider as he steps into the lobbies without a touch and has to go away to the benches.

Maleki now has a SUPER RAID! It was a Do or Die raid, yet again the failed ankle hold from the right corner is too easy for Maleki, who picks up a bonus point and also wards off a final second dash to pick three points.

Mohammad Malak is on fire! Mudassar Ali looks to go back without a touch but Malak had other plans as he came in with a superb ankle hold to stop Ali is his tracks.

Maghsoudlou! What a champion! Another failed advance tackle from the right corner, Maghsoudlou skips out of the ankle hold and picks another point.

ALL-OUT inflicted on Pakistan!

Wasim Sajjad cannot trap the raider, who only extends his hand to get a touch on the veteran defender's shoulder and inflicts the all-out on Pakistan. Second one of this match.

Muhammad Imran down with the Do or Die raid! The pressure tells on him as he almost runs out of time, goes in for the last second ditch attempt on Malak who pulls him in and the rest of the defense finishes off the task.

Back live after the timeout. Pakistan down to just two men on the court.

Yet another point and guess the name! Mohammad Maghsoudlou! An effortless kick on the right corner defender is all it took, the Iran bench is jumping up and down with joy!

Iran lead 25-17 with less than 10 minutes to spare in the half.

And now Mirzai strikes on the defense front! A vicious ankle hold pins the raider down as the rest of the defense gives him ample support!

Fantastic agility from Iran's raider as he goes in for a pursuit on Muhammad Imran, who was caught napping on back-tracking after his raid, a kick was enough to pick the point.

Do or Die raid for Nabibakhsh and he fails! A poor sense of judgement from the raider as he goes into his own half without any point and gift wraps an easy point to Iran.

Wow! Iran show how the advance tackle is done! Mohammad Malak comes in with a sudden thigh hold and it was a very strong attempt which pinned the raider on the mat.

Ibrar Hussain picks up a bonus point. Lucky! He did cut the line on that raid, umpires did not spot that and Ibrar gets away with it.

This time it's Maleki's turn as he gets a sliding toe touch on Mudassar Ali and then celebrates another point!

Masghsoudlou continues to have a field day with another Anup Kumar-esque toe touch!

ALL-OUT inflicted on Iran now!

Muhammad Imran does well to get past a special effort from Iran's Maleki, who dances about on the court and runs to either side looking to get past the touch but Imran has the final laugh.

Wasim Sajjad's ankle hold is complemented superbly by the rest of the Pakistan defense pounces in!

Mudassar Ali gets a huge point with a running hand touch on Mohammad Maghsoudlou!

Maghsoudlou strikes! Gets a touch point on Qaiser Abbas who goes in with a weak ankle hold.

Also collects a Green Card for aggressive appealing on a bonus point.

Pakistan strike early in the second half! Nabibakhsh does well to get over the chain with a frog jump but the Pakistan skipper Wasim Sajjad runs in and pulls the raider back into their own half with a strong back hold.

One substitution for Pakistan.

Sajjad Shauqat comes in for Muhammad Nadeem.

The second half has commenced!

Iran down to just three men on the court and Pakistan will need to pull up their socks to challenge this Iranian setup.

Pakistan have certainly had their moments but bereft of the experienced Nasir Ali on the left corner, their advance tackles and dashes have played antagonist to their plans.

Wasim Sajjad will need to spark some inspiration on his men, for the 'Men in Green' have a mountain to climb with a ten-point deficit staring at them. An exciting second half awaits, stay tuned!

Iran lead 19-9 at half time!

Mohammad Nabibakhsh started off with a superb Super raid to shift the momentum on Iran's side and has picked up six points in the first half while Iran's substitute Mohammad Maghsoudlou has looked in fine touch with three raid points from an equal number of raids.

Hat-trick of points for Maghsoudlou!

Muhammad Imran looks to be a hero in the defense side, goes in for an advance tackle, Maghsoudlou spots the dash early and backtracks in time to pile more misery on Pakistan.

Maghsoulou continues to impress, this time slides his right foot on the toe of the right corner and picks another easy point.

Oh, wait Iran have reviewed.

Shocking review from Iran, he had comfortably stepped out of the court. REVIEW UNSUCCESSFUL!

My, my! All the effort in vain!

Maghsoudlou almost pulled off a solo tackle but that's foiled by the Iranian right corner, who stepped out of the court when the raid was on. Poor, poor from Mohammad Malak.

Maghsoudlou strikes immediately with a bonus point! Clean and clinical!

Substitution for Iran.

Mohammad Maghsoudlou comes in place of Amin Nosrati.

Another easy bonus point for Iran.

Oh, no Hadi! What have you done! Iran had only three men left on the mat, did well to run the clock down on Muhammad Imran's raid which was also the Do or Die raid bu Hadi Tajik ran in for an advance tackle, Imran turned away and picked an easy point.

Amin Nosrati collects a bonus point.

Pakistan and Iran have taken a cautious approach in the last five minutes, only four points scored, all by Pakistan.

Do or Die raid for Iran and that's a sloppy error from the Iranian raider!

Mirzai on that occasion does not realise that it is a do or die raid, runs back into his own half without a touch point and is sent off to the benches.

Back-to back empty raids now.

Iran lead 14-6 with just over 8 minutes to go in the first half.

Muhammad Imran picks up a brace on his Do or Die raid! Stands tall and wards away the dash on his mid-rib as he sneaks through the Iranian chain to add two more points to Pakistan's tally!

Nabibakhsh has been thrown down on the Do or Die raid! Ibrar Hussain joins the party with a strong ankle hold, the Iranian raider had no answer to the might of that tackle.

Muhammad Nadeem is a sitting duck! Turns his back against the left side of the defence, looks for a touch and the Iranians swoop in with pace to envelope Nadeem and collect a defensive point.

One point for Pakistan and Iran as Hadi Tajik runs in with a strong dash, Mudassar is thrown off the court but the ace defender has crossed the mid-line on his dash and will also go to the benches.

Nosrati gets a touch on Qaiser Abbas with a good back kick and collects a point on the Do or Die raid!

Kabaddi Masters Dubai 2018 Semifinal: Iran vs Pakistan, Live Match Updates

Iran 40 - 21 Pakistan [FT]