Eleanor Thompson In an exhilarating display of dominance, U Mumba, led by the attacking prowess of Ajith Chauhan and the defensive acumen of Sunil Kumar, triumphed over Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11. The match, held at the Balewadi Sports Complex’s Badminton Hall on Thursday, saw U Mumba clinch victory with a score of 43-37.
According to a PKL press release, U Mumba’s win means they and the Season 10 champions could secure the final two playoff berths if Jaipur Pink Panthers avoid defeat against Bengal Warriorz on Friday.
The match began with Manjeet and Devank registering early points for U Mumba and Patna Pirates, respectively. Manjeet’s two-point raid and a robust tackle by Lokesh Ghosliya gave U Mumba a three-point lead in the initial stages. As the game progressed, Rohit Raghav bolstered U Mumba’s lead further.
Eight minutes in, Ajith Chauhan ignited his performance with a three-point Super Raid, which was followed by U Mumba inflicting an ‘ALL OUT’ on Patna Pirates, extending their lead to seven points. Despite Devank’s efforts to rally the Pirates, U Mumba’s defensive trio of Lokesh, Rinku, and Sunil Kumar maintained their advantage. By halftime, Ajith Chauhan was on the verge of another Super 10, with U Mumba leading 24-14.
The second half began at a slower pace, but Ajith Chauhan soon completed his Super 10 and inflicted another ‘ALL OUT’ on Patna Pirates. With 15 minutes remaining, U Mumba held a commanding 12-point lead.
Although Devank struggled, Sudhakar M worked tirelessly to keep Patna Pirates in contention. At the half-hour mark, with the Pirates trailing by 10 points, U Mumba showed no signs of letting up. Ajith Chauhan continued his impressive raiding, while Sunil Kumar and his fellow defenders secured the defense.
In the final minutes, Sunil Kumar achieved his High-5, and the defenders sealed the Pirates’ fate. Despite a late ‘ALL OUT’ by Patna Pirates and Devank completing his Super 10, it was not enough to overcome U Mumba’s dominance.
Ajith Chauhan emerged as the top scorer for U Mumba with 15 points, while Sunil Kumar achieved a High-5. For Patna Pirates, Devank secured 12 points, Ayan scored 7, and Sudhakar M added 5 points.
The schedule for PKL Season 11 matches on Friday, December 20, includes:
- Match 1: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs. Bengal Warriorz at 8 pm
- Match 2: Puneri Paltan vs. Telugu Titans at 9 pm.
