PBL Highlights: Mumbai Rockets defeat Awadhe Warriors to go top of the table

Get the live score updates from today's Premier Badminton League (PBL) match between Awadhe Warriors and Mumbai Rockets.

Awadhe Warriors' doubles pair Mathias Christiansen and Ashwini Ponnappa.

Final Score: Mumbai Rockets 5-2 Awadhe Warriors

Mumbai Rockets moves to top of the table with a 5-2 win over Awadhe Warriors. Sameer Verma's 15-11, 8-15, 15-11 win against Lee Dong Keun sealed the tie for Mumbai Rockets as Awadhe Warriors was only able to win its trump match.

Highlights

Mathias Christiansen/Ashwini Ponnappa vs Kim Gi Jung/Pia Zebadiah

 

Third game

13-15 Mumbai Rockets win! A beautiful smash from Jung gave them match point and Ashwini netted a return on the next point to seal the match.

12-12 A strong fight from Ashwini and Christensen levels the score as the match goes down to the wire.

Second game

15-12 Ashwini and Christensen pull one back for the Awadhe Warriors. Each match won is a precious point.

First game

10-15 Jung and Zebadiah take the first game.

Next up is the mixed doubles match between Mathias Christiansen/Ashwini Ponnappa (Awadhe Warriors) and Kim Gi Jung/Pia Zebadiah (Mumbai Rockets).

Sameer Verma of Mumbai Rockets beats Lee Dong Keun of Awadhe Warriors 15-11 8-15 15-11 to help the team take an unassailable 4-2 lead in the tie.

11-15 Verma takes the match! He's a bit fortunate here... his forehand smash dropping in Lee's court off the top of the net, but the Indian won't care. He gives Mumbai Rockets an unassailable 4-2 lead in the tie.

11-13 Lee goes for the forehand winner, but drags his shot down under the net.

11-12 A backhand winner from Lee.

10-12 This time, Lee with the forehand unforced error.

10-11 A forehand unforced error from Verma, catches the net. Verma's 11th unforced error of the match.

9-10 A forehand cross court winner from Verma, who has clearly upped the ante! This was a 30-shot rally that Lee well to stay in with Verma on the attack throughout.

9-8 A forehand winner down the middle from Verma after dragging Lee to the net with a delicate drop shot!

9-7 Verma's forehand smash is long, well over the baseline.  That's the 10th forehand unforced error from Verma!

8-7 Three points in a row for Lee, who goes into the mid-game break with a one-point lead.

7-7 Lee redeems himself quickly and produces a forehand winner.

6-7 A forehand unforced error from Lee, smashes the net.

6-6 A delicate, well-disguised drop shot from Verma to level the score.

4-4 A backhand unforced error from Verma. The shuttle is long, well over the baseline.

3-4 Son forces a forehand error off Verma with a jump smash.

2-3 Verma with a forehand winner. Lee expects the shuttle go long, but it drops flush on the sideline.

2-1 Verma catches the net with jump smash.

1-0 An astonishing rally to start the third game! Lee comes out on top with a forehand smash down the line that goes unreturned from Verma.

 

Third game.

15-8 Verma's forehand is wide and we go to the deciding third game.

14-8 A forehand winner from Son, who has a game point.

13-8 A forehand unforced error Verma; he tries to disguise his shot and play a drop shot, but he catches the net.

11-8 A cross court forehand winner from Verma. A sudden shift in momentum!

11-7 A jump smash down the line from Verma.

9-6 A backhand winner from Lee; Verma misjudges the flight and the shuttle drops flush on the sideline.

 

8-6 Lee takes a two-point lead into the mid-game break.

4-3 Lee with a forehand down the line winner.

Second game.

11-15 Verma takes the first game... with a bit of fortune. His forehand smash drops off the top of the net, leaving Lee helpless.

11-14 Verma with a forehand unforced error, catches the net.

10-13 A forced forehand error from Verma. Lee staging a fightback to win the first game.

9-13 A backhand unforced error from Verma.

7-13 A backhand winner from Verma to build on what was already a healthy lead.

5-3 A forehand cross court winner from Verma. That's the fourth forehand winner from Verma.

4-3 Verma with a body smash at Lee, which goes unreturned.

3-3 A forehand winner from Verma.

2-3 Lee with an early lead in the fourth match of the tie.

Next up, Mumbai Rockets' Sameer Verma takes on Lee Dong Keun of Awadhe Warriors in the next match, which is a must-win for Awadhe Warriors.

 

Mumbai Rockets' Anders Antonsen beats Son Wan Ho of Awadhe Warriors 6-15 15-11 15-14 and gives Mumbai Rockets 3-2 lead in the tie.

14-15 A backhand winner from Antonsen seals the match! He wins coming from a game down.

14-14 Son levels the score with a jump smash that goes unreturned!

13-14 Pendulum now swings Antonsen's way! A forehand cross court winner gives him match point.

13-12 A forehand winner from Son. Four points in a row now for the Awadhe Warriors man!

12-12 Son's jump smash catches the line and he gets a point on reviewing the umpire's call.

11-12 An unforced error from Antonsen. Two points in a row for Son.

9-12 A forehand winner from Antonsen. 

8-9 Son catches the net with jump smash. His forehand errors are mounting; he's now made 12.

8-7 A body smash from Son to take a one-point lead into the mid-game break.

7-7 A forced forehand error from Son.

7-6 A jump smash down the middle from Antonsen. 9th forehand winner of the match for Antonsen.

7-5 Son catches the net with jump smash. That was the 10th forehand unforced error from Son.

7-4 A forehand unforced error from Son. Drags his shot wide.

4-3 A forced forehand error from Son.

3-2 A backhand winner from Son.

2-0 Jump smash from Antonsen catches the net.

1-0 A forced backhand error from Antonsen.

Third game.

11-15 Son goes for the winner with a jump smash but only manages to catch the net.

11-14 A forehand cross court winner from Son.

10-14 A forehand unforced error from Son, game point for Antonsen.

 

10-13 Son's forehand smash is wide. Antonsen has now hit five forehand winners, six less than Son's.

10-12 A forehand winner down the line from Antonsen. That was a 29-shot rally.

10-11 Antonsen forces a backhand error off Son with a jump smash (354 kmph).

10-10 Antonsen's backhanded lob is long.

9-10 A backhand error from Son. Goes for the drop but catches the net.

9-9 A backhand winner from Son. Antonsen misreads the flight again and the shuttle drops inside the baseline.

8-9 A forehand winner from Antonsen.

8-8 Misjudgment from Antonsen expecting the shuttle to go long. It drops inside the baseline and Son has three points in a row.

6-8 A forehand unforced error from Antonsen.

 

5-8 Antonsen takes a three-point lead into the mid-game break with a forehand winner.

5-7 A forehand unforced error from Son.

5-6 Antonsen forces a backhand error off Son with a delicate drop shot.

5-5 Antonsen catches the net on returning a drop shot from Son.

4-5 Back to back points for Antonsen, the latest courtesy a backhand error from Son.

4-3 A forehand error from Son, catches the net.

4-2 Backhand winner from Son. Both players involved in a tussle at the net, Son comes out on top.

3-2 An unforced error from Antonsen. His lob is long.

2-1 A jump smash down the line from Son. Antonsen thought it was heading out but the shuttle dropped well inside the baseline.

1-1 A backhand error from Son.

1-0 A forehand cross court winner from Son to get off the mark in the second game.

Son (Awadhe Warriors) to share.

Second game.

15-6 A forehand winner from Son seals the first game for Awadhe Warriors.

14-6 Antonsen's lob is long, giving Son game point.

13-6 Antonsen catches the net with a jump smash.

11-6 Son's forehand lob is long. Antonsen shows good judgment to watch the shuttle drop over the baseline.

11-5 Son produces a backhand winner this time.

10-5 Another jump smash down the line from Son.

9-5 Antonsen forces a backhand error off Son with a jump smash after a 22-shot rally.

9-4 Antonsen smashes the net with his forehand. The second unforced forehand error he's made so far.

8-4 A forehand smash down the line from Son to take a four-point lead into the mid-game break.

6-4 A backhand winner from Antonsen. The question there was if he played the shuttle before it crossed the net. The chair umpire thought he played the shuttle after it crossed the net.

6-3 Another forehand winner from Son Wan Ho.

5-3 A jump smash down the line from Antonsen. The speed of the smash was 389 kmph!

5-2 Son drags his forehand wide. That's the first forehand unforced error.

5-1 Antonsen goes for the cross court winner but drags it marginally wide.

4-1 A forehand smash down the line from Son to seal the point after a long rally!

3-1 A jump smash down the line from Son.

2-0 Another forehand cross court winner from the Awadhe Warriors man.

1-0 A forehand cross court winner from Son.

Son Wan Ho to serve.

Next up is the men's singles match between Son Wan Ho (Awadhe Warriors) and Anders Antonsen (Mumbai Rockets).

 

Mumbai Rockets (Lee Yong Dae/Kim Gi Jung) wins its Trump Match 15-7 15-9 against M. R. Arjun/Lee Yang of Awadhe Warriors. The tie is now level 2-2.

15-9 Mumbai Rockets takes the second game and seals the Trump Match.

14-9 A forehand winner from Arjun.

14-8 A forehand unforced error from Arjun, who is unable to return the body smash.

13-8 A delicate drop shot from Kim Gi Jung after Awadhe Warriors defended resolutely.

12-8 Another forehand unforced error from Mumbai Rockets — this time, Kim Gi Jung the guilty party.

12-7 Lee Yang's jump smash forces a forehand error off Kim Gi Jung.

11-6 A forehand error from Lee Yong Dae.

11-5 An unforced error from Lee Yang.

9-4 Kim Gi Jung smashes down the middle. Arjun, playing at the front, doesn't have an answer.

8-4 Another dominant game from the Mumbai Rockets pair, taking a four-point lead into the mid-game break.

 

6-3 Another jump smash from Lee Yong Dae hurries Arjun into a forehand that hits the net.

5-2 Lee Yong Dae forces a forehand error from Lee Yang.

Second game.

15-7 Mumbai Rockets takes the first game by eight points.

14-6 A backhand winner from Kim Gi Jung.

12-6 Lee Yang tries to disguise his drop shot but catches the net.

9-6 Arjun misses an attempted forehand smash.

8-6 A forehand error from Kim Gi Jung.

8-5 Another unforced error from Awadhe Warriors, sending Mumbai Rockets into the mid-game break with a three-point lead.

7-4 Arjun plays a delicate drop shot.

7-2 A forced backhand error from Lee Yang.

6-2 Arjun goes the forehand winner, but smashes the net.

5-2 Lee Yang goes for the backhand drop shot and catches the net.

4-2 A service fault from Lee Yong Dae.

4-1 M. R. Arjun with a backhand unforced error.

3-0 Kim Gi Jung with some good work at the net, pounces on a weak return and seals the point with a forehand winner.

1-0 Lee Yang with a forehand unforced error, catches the net with an attempted drop shot.

Next up is the men's doubles match between Lee Yang/M. R. Arjun (Awadhe Warriors) and Lee Yong Dae/Kim Gi Jung (Mumbai Rockets). This is a Trump Match for Mumbai Rockets.

Awadhe Warriors' Beiwen Zhang beats Mumbai Rockets Shriyanshi Pardeshi 15-10 15-10 in the Trump Match to put her team 2-0 ahead in the tie.

15-10 Zhang takes the game and with it the Trump Match, courtesy a forehand unforced error from Pardeshi.

 

13-9 A forehand unforced error from Pardeshi. Goes for the winner, but drags her shot wide.

11-9 Pardeshi's backhand cross court gets Zhang to stretch to her left but she drags her forehand wide of the sideline.

11-7 Another forehand cross court winner from Zhang!

10-6 Well played! Pardeshi pushes Zhang deep in the court and then plays the backhand drop to seal the point.

10-5 Zhang with a forehand cross court winner.

 

8-5 Pardeshi's forehand is long and Zhang takes control at the mid-game break in the second.

6-5 Back to back unforced errors from Pardeshi and Zhang.

5-4 A forehand cross court winner from Zhang.

4-4 An unforced backhand error from Pardeshi.

3-4 Pardeshi's forehand catches the net.

2-4 Zhang's forehand catches the net.

1-3 Zhang's backhand is wide.

1-2 A unforced error from Zhang, who catches the net.

Second game.

10-15 Zhang takes the first game with a forehand unforced error from Pardeshi.

8-14 Pardeshi with a winner.

7-13 Unforced errors mounting for Pardeshi. The latest is a backhand error.

7-11 A backhand winner from Zhang; misjudgment from Pardeshi to not play it.

6-10 Pardeshi's forehand is long this time.

6-9 Pardeshi catches the net with a jump smash.

6-8 Another unforced error from Pardeshi sends Zhang into the mid-game break with a two-point lead.

6-6 A forehand cross court winner from Zhang with Pardeshi deep in her court.

6-5 Three consecutive points for Pardeshi. Zhang's backhand catches the net this time.

5-5 Pardeshi forces a forehand error off Zhang.

4-5 A forehand cross court winner from Pardeshi.

3-5 Pardeshi goes for a backhand drop shot, but catches the net.

2-4 A forehand cross court winner from Zhang.

1-3 Pardeshi drags her forehand wide.

1-1 Pardeshi's backhand is long, over the baseline.

1-0 A forehand unforced error from Zhang.

Shriyanshi Pardeshi to serve. This is a Trump Match for Awadhe Warriors.

First up will be the women's singles match between Beiwen Zhang (Awadhe Warriors) and Mumbai Rockets' Shriyanshi Pardeshi.

 

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Yesterday, Chennai Smashers eased past Ahmedabad Smash Masters, and Bengaluru Raptors came from behind to beat Pune 7 Aces.