Until then, it's goodbye from me. CIAO!
That's all for today. Thank you so much for joining me. Tomorrow's the final league game between Bangalore Raptors and Awadhe Warriors and it will decide who takes the remaining semifinals spot.
Quick recap!
The tie began with the men's doubles match in which Hendra Setiawan and Chirag Shetty of Pune ran riot as they thumped the Hunters pair of Sean Vendy and Ben Lane in straight games to give the visitor a 1-0.
The first men's singles match of the night followed and it turned out to be a pulsating encounter as two youngsters from India, 18-year-old Priyanshu Rajawat and 21-year-old Mithun Manjunath, battled it out in a three-game thriller. Eventually, Mithun broke Priyanshu's Trump to take Pune up 2-(-1).
World Champion and current world No. 6 P.V. Sindhu made short of her match against Rituparna Das, who failed to turn up on the night and the local shuttler won in straight games to register Hyderabad's first victory on the night.
The Adcocks, Chris and Gabrielle, played a gamble by calling the Trump on the pairing of Ivanov and Sikki Reddy, which is known for snatching the Trumps. Tonight was no different as the Hunters pair clinched the contest in a three-game battle to level the tie score at 1-1.
Pune, before this match, needed a minimum of two points at the end of this tie to qualify for the semifinals and the onus was on Loh Kean Yew of Singapore to down an out-of-form Sourabh Verma and help Pune make it to the next round of PBL 5. Loh did just that he eased past Verma in straight games to culminate a successful night for Pune.
SCORES READ [ HYDERABAD HUNTERS - PUNE 7 ACES]
Loh Kean Yew beats Sourabh Verma 15-14, 15-11 to send Pune into the semifinals. Pune wins 2-1 vs Hyderabad.
Game 2- Loh wins 15-10
15-10 LOH KEAN YEW SENDS DOWN A LETHAL SMASH PAST VERMA'S FOREHAND AND THAT'S THAT.
14-10 Verma with great deception and is delaying Loh's win her. Good drop.
14-9 Lucky! Sourabh's forehand get catches the net and the birdie trickles it over.
14-8 Match points to Loh as Sourabh's backhand, cross-court flick falls wide.
13-8 Well-judged by Sourabh, who lets the service from Loh fall short.
13-7 Loh Kean attacks once again with a lethal down the line smash and Verma taps the birdie back into the net.
10-5 Verma's backhand dribble falls just wide.
9-5 Better from Verma. Yes, he missed the line with this down the line smash but his body language has looked better after the turn.
8-3 Action replay of the previous point as Loh Kean with another series of smashes, finding the line and finding Verma in serious trouble.
7-3 Loh is now making short work of this game as he hammers another smash.
5-3 Verma on the floor and Loh jogging around. Phenomenal stuff from Loh, who nails a cross-court jump smash and a diving Verma gets his racket under the shuttle but it doesn't have enough legs on it for it cross over.
4-3 Verman tries a cheeky overhead drop from back court, but finds the net/
3-3 Loh Kean Yew sends down a 407 kph smash past Verma's backhand.
GAME 1- Loh wins 15-14
14-15 TOO EASY AS LOH KEAN YEW TAKES THE FIRST GAME AND TAKES PUNE 1 GAME CLOSER TO THE SEMIS WITH HIS CROSS-COURT SMASH AT 298 KPH.
14-14 So, so good from Verma as he forces the game into the decider point. Loh nets his dribble.
12-9 Verma with some finesse as he places and times his cross-court down the line slice to perfection and a lunging Loh has no chance.
12-8 First, Loh taps it up and over Verma. Then, another huge smash to win the point. Then, Verma lifts one long.
9-8 This time, Loh goes cross-court with his smash and Verma is unable to return it off his backhand.
8-8 Loh Kean Yew, with a 397 kph smash for the winner.
7-8 VERMA TURNS IT AROUND AND TAKES THE LEAD AT THE TURN.
7-5 BOOMING SMASH from Loh Kean Yew and Verma has no chance on his backhand.
6-4 Loh into the lead as Verma drags two consecutive down the line smashes wide.
4-4 GREAT DECEPTION. HARD SMASH FOLLOWED BY A DECEPTIVE, CROSS-COURT SLICED DROP.
4-3 Loh Kean Yew goes parallel with his forehand for a smash and to win the point.
4-2 Jump smash into the net by Verma.
4-1 Another unforced error from Loh as he mis-hits yet another return.
3-1 Cross-court sliced smash by Loh and he nets it.
2-1 Loh Kean Yew gets off the mark as Verma's dribble finds the net.
2-0 Loh Kean Yew goes wide with his backhand flick.
1-0 Good, long rally to begin with. An exchange of drops that quickly transitioned to flat, quick exchanges. In the end, Loh nets his return.
Loh Kean Yew to serve first.
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FIXTURE COMING UP. LET'S GET GOING!
It's simple here. If Loh Kean Yew wins, Pune 7 Aces are in the semis. They didn't have to stretch it this far but credit to Hyderabad. They are out of the reckoning but are leaving no stone unturned in finishing on a high and a ruining someone else's party.
Hyd 1-1 Pune. Ivanov and Sikki Reddy break Chris and Gabrielle's Adcocks Trump to level the score. From being down (-1)- 2, Hyderabad has fought back to level the score. The Hunters win this match 15-9, 11-15 15-8.
Game 3- Ivanov/Sikki win 15-8.
15-8 THEY HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. IVANOV AND SIKKI HAVE BROKEN YET ANOTHER TRUMP. THIRD TIME THE TWO HAVE DONE IT IN THIS SEASON. 4th TIME FOR IVANOV, WHO IS HAVING A SEASON TO REMEMBER. 21 shots int eh rally and Chris' backhand lift falls wide.
14-8 Sikki nets her serve.
14-7 What was that? A regulation push from Ivanov and the Adcocks let it alone. The shuttle falls well within the baseline.
12-7 Just three points away from winning the match and levelling the score.
8-4 The lead with the Hunters as Chris's backhand push travels wide.
6-3 Chris nails another smash past Sikki's backhand.
6-2 Sikki's attempted cross-court dribble finds the net.
6-1 First point of the game for the Adcocks. Chris bags it with a 383 kph smash past Ivanov's backhand
5-0 Well, they can do no wrong in this game. Ivanov with a great sliced, drop that just catches the lone.
3-0 Ivanov with a flat return to answer a Chris smash and Gabby is rushed into the return. She hits it into the net.
2-0 Good start from the Hunters pair as Chris nets yet another regulation push.
Game 2- Chris/Gabrielle win 15-11
11-15 SIKKI OVERSHOOTS HER FOREHAND DRIVE WIDE AND WE ARE GOING INTO THE DECIDER. NERVES OF STEEL BY THE ADCOCKS AS THEY FIGHT BACK TO FORCE THE DECIDER.
11-14 But they continue to hold on. Sikki drops the shuttle with soft hand and Chris flicks the return flat and cross-court but it falls wide.
9-14 WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE? THE PAIR SEEMS TO HAVE FALLEN APART. ANOTHER ERROR FROM IVANOV AS HE NETS A TAP.
9-13 Well, what a comeback by the Adcocks. Decider incoming, looks like it.
9-11 This time, Ivanov errors as he rushes into a jab at the net but it fails to cross over.
9-10 Errors galore on both sides of the return as Sikki makes another unforced error.
9-9 Sikki's dribble finds the net.
8-7 The Hunters have a slender lead as Chris' low, forehand slice drags wide.
7-7 SCORES LEVEL! Sikki's flat push floats long.
7-6 Chris with an inside-out smash past Ivanov and Pune clinging on.
7-3 Chris lets Sikki's serve go and it lands inbounds.
6-3 THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL. IVANOV WITH HUUGGE DOWN THE LINE SMASH AND CHRIS TRIES TO FLICK IT BACK BUT CAN ONLY HIT IT WIDE.
5-3 More like Chris now as his down the line smash is hit back into the net.
5-2 Adcocks off the mark in this game.
4-0 How good is Sikki at the net? Chris and Ivanov exchange smashes from the baseline. Sikki shuffles to her right, intercepts a drive and then smashes the birdie into the ground for a winner.
3-0 Sikki's tap gets the better of Gabby.
2-0 Ivanov chips in with a gigantic down the line smash past Gabrielle.
1-0 Brilliant drop from Sikki. Lovely drop and Chris has no answers.
Remember that Pune needs to score at least two points by the end of this tie to secure a semifinal berth. If Ivanov and Sikki break the Adcocks Trump, the score will become 1-1 and the final singles match will become a decider. Tense game coming up for Pune and the Adcocks.
Game 1- Ivanov/Sikki win 15-9
15-9 CHRIS ADCOCK NETS THE RETURN OFF THE FOREHAND FAILS TO CROSS THE NET YET AGAIN AND THIS IS WORRYING TIME FOR THE ADCOCKS AND PUNE.
14-9 Service error from Sikki.
14-8 Six game points as Sikki Reddy's half smash gets the better of Gabreille.
13-8 Chris continues to make unforced errors as he nets the return.
12-8 Loose serve and Chris makes them pay with a lovely tap,
12-7 Ivanov is all over the shuttle as he hammers down a gigantic smash right down the middle.
11-7 Sikki comes good at the net again. Intercepts the lift and smashes the shuttle past Gabby.
8-7 Chris gets lucky as his service return catches the tap and falls over.
8-6 Sikki and Ivanov has their noses ahead, but just. Sikki Reddy, once again, comes good at the net with a quick tap and Chris can only hit the return wide.
7-4 Ouch but Gabrielle is okay. The 6'6'' Ivanov drills down a massive smash that grazes Gabrielle's head.
6-4 Chris aims the smash towards Sikki's backhand and she returns it wide.
6-3 Better from Adcock. Brilliant jump smash from Chris and Ivanov is unable to keep the shuttle in play.
6-2 Well, what a strong start by Sikki and Ivanov. The Adcocks under pressure.
5-1 Gigantic smash from Ivanov and Chris has no answers.
4-1 Ivanov drops the shuttle shot and Gabby attempts to dribble it cross-court but fails.
3-1 Another unforced error from Chris. From the back, his backhand finds the net,
2-1 Chris nets his flat push.
1-1 The Adcocks are off the mark as Gabby's smash at Sikki is returned wide.
1-0 First point to Hyderabad as Gabby's dribble is wide.
Sikki Reddy to serve first.
The husband-wife pairing of Chris and Gabby have called the Trump on Siki and Ivanov.
P.V. SINDHU DRAWS CURTAINS ON HER PBL 5 CAMPAIGN BY BEATING RITUPARNA DAS 15-7, 15-8 AND GIVES HUNTERS THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE NIGHT. SCORE: HYD 0-2 PUN
Game 2- Sindhu wins 15-8
15-8 PV SINDHU ENDS PBL 5 WITH A CONVINCING WIN OVER RITUPARNA DAS.
14-8 Six match points as Ritu's forehand, overhead drive is long.
13-8 Just two points away from giving Hyderabad its first win on the night, is Sindhu as Ritu returns Sindhu's drop into the net.
10-8 Too fast to handle. Sindhu sends down a smash with soaring pace and Ritu had to protect her face as the return fails to cross the net.
9-8 Ritu clawing her way back into the game as Sindhu begins to make unforced errors. Slams the return into the net.
9-7 Nicely done by Ritu. Shuffles back and then plays a lovely cut drop shot that a lunging Sindhu returns wide.
9-6 Sindhu with a flurry of might smashes at Ritu, who lets through the last one that clocks 353 kph.
8-6 Sindhu hasn't particularly been made to work so far and she is breezing through her contest against Ritu and enjoys a two-point cushion on the turn.
7-6 311 kph on that smash as Sindhu places her cross-court smash to perfection and Ritu has no chance of getting that back.
6-6 Ritu levels the score as she catches the line with her down the line smash.
6-4 Ace! Sends her serve high and Ritu leaves it alone thinking it will drift long, but the shuttle falls inside the court.
6-4 Sindhu steps back and drills in a gigantic cross-court smash.
5-4 Sindhu's down the line slice off her forehand shoots long.
4-3 Sindhu inches ahead as Ritu's backhand dribble ends up into the net.
2-2 OH, THAT IS CLASS FROM SINDHU. She forces Ritu deep into the left. Ritu converts the backhand into a forehand and then Sindhu picks out the smash with ease as she places her cross-court drop with ease.
1-1 Ritu isn't able to cross her cross-court dribble over the net.
0-1 Rituparna's drop is returned into the net by Sindhu.
Game 1- Sindhu wins 15-7
15-7 Sindhu eventually closes out the first game after placing a down the line smash deep into the corner. Ritu's attempted backhand, cross-court drop on the return finds the net.
14-7 Good three point from Ritu. A drop-exchange at the net and she wins the point. Next two points, Sindhu nets her returns.
13-4 Sindhu wins two more points. First, he delightful drop gets the better of Ritu, who slams the shuttle into the net in the next rally.
11-4 That's better from Ritu. 324 kph smash, down the line and well placed as even Sindhu is unable to return it.
10-3 Sindhu fends off a cross-court smash from Ritu with ease and drops the shuttle short for a winner.
9-3 First real smash from Sindhu as she cramps Ritu for room with a body line smash down the middle.
8-3 Das overhits an overhead forehand drive and it falls long off the baseline. Rituparna is yet to find her rhythm so far and Sindhu is largely riding on her unforced errors. Pune's coach tells Ritu, at the break, that she needs to walk herself into the match.
7-3 Backhand, down the line push from Sindhu falls wide.
7-2 Sindhu's big serve is high and long.
7-1 So far, so good for Sindhu as Rituparna hits another drive wide.
5-1 Rituparna is off the mark as Sindhu's forehand drive floats wide.
5-0 Sindhu wins one more as Ritu's drive floats wide.
4-0 This time, Das slaps the down the line smash into the net. Sindhu making the most of unforced errors from Rituparna.
3-0 Sindhu with an early lead here as Ritu's attempted cross-court sliced smash floats long.
2-0 Ritu's drop from back court finds the net.
1-0 They start off with a long rally and it ends with Rituparna rushing back for the forehand drive and hits it long.
Rituparna to serve first.
World Champions and world No. 6 PV Sindhu takes on Rituparna Das, who is coming on the back of a stellar win over world No. 14 Beiwen Zhang.
This is a big one, folks. Sit tight. Mithun and Priyanshu played an absolute thriller to set the stadium on fire. The crowd is having a blast.
Mithun Manjunath wins the match 15-11, 11-15, 15-13 to break Priyanshu Rajawat's Trump. Pune now leads 2- (1-). Phew, that one was exciting contest.
GAME 3- Mithun wins 15-13
13-15 MITHUN MANJUNATH, ON HIS PBL, HAS TAKEN THE WIN AND HAS BROKEN THE TRUMP. WHAT A PERFORMANCE ON DEBUT. Great composure but heart goes out to Priyanshu for putting up a pulsating fight.
13-14 NARROWLY LONG FROM PRIYANSHU AND MATCH POINT TO MITHUN.
13-13 Priyanshu, while returning a half-smash from Mithun, nets the shuttle.
13-12 Great defence from Mithun, but the long rally has its effect on him as his desperate smash shoots wide.
12-12 Oh, what a game this is turning out to be. Mithun is on the floor while returning a mighty smash from Priyanshu, who approaches the net for another. Mithun is quick to get back on his feet but is unable to time it as the shuttle flies wide.
12-11 Priyanshu waits late to return the serve and ends up flicking it wide.
11-11 Neither plays have thrown in their towels. Much better from Mithun at the net, as he responds to a drop with a cross-court push over Priyanshu.
11-10 Priyanshu with the lead now. Perfect smash to the body of Mithun, who is unable to keep the shuttle in play.
10-10 Incredible character from Priyanshu as he levels the score with a similar winner.
9-10 Mithun, once against inched ahead by two consecutive points, but he gives away the point by a loose flick at the net and Priyanshu puts the point to be bed with an easy tap past him.
8-8 SENSATIONAL! One of the best returns of the tournament. Did the shuttle swing inwards? What was that? Mithun should have drilled a down the line smash from the net but after conceding five points on the trott, he goes for an easy tap. Priyanshu, off his backhand, simply sticks his racket out tap it back and finds the side line.
7-8 What a comeback this has been from Priyanshu. Delightful drop to make it five points on the trott by Priyanshu.
6-8 LEAD WITH MITHUN, FOR NOW, BUT MOMENTUM WITHPRIYANSHU. 41-SHOT RALLY AND MITHUN WITH ANOTHER UNFORCED ERROR AT THE NET AS HIS DRIBBLE FINDS THE NET.
3-8 Service over! The mid-game break seems to have worked out for Priyanshu who sends in a Herculean smash to see Mithun falter at the opposite end of the court.
2-6 Priyanshu cannot afford to give away freebies at this moment. Too many errors from the 18-year-old now, with him mostly finding the nets. He has to judge the power he is putting in those net shots.
1-1 ' What you do, I can do better,' says Priyanshu as he works one away with a wristy flick. The youngster is delightful to watch, one must say!
0-1 What a start from Mithun! A 346 kph scorcher down the alley line. There was no way Priyanshu was getting under it.
GAME 2- Priyanshu wins 15-11
15-11 Hyderabad, courtesy Priyanshu, has forced a deciding game on Pune now. What an exciting contest this is turning out to be!
14-11 Mithun almost comes back with a point, but the trickery doesn't work out. A half-flick gets trapped in the net.
12-10 Mithun Manjunath with an inch-perfect drop! The five-point cushion is now gone, with Manjunath making it three on the spin. Priyanshu's return finds the net.
11-7 Priyanshu showing exactly what he is capable of. Plays with soft hands first, at the net, before switching to the longer lifts. Lastly, comes back with a point, with an incredible jump smash!
9-6 Mithun is gutted for mistiming a reverse, sliced smash. The birdie finds the net.
8-6 Quick comeback from Priyanshu and Mithun has halved the deficit. Unforced error from Priyanshu as he zips it long.
8-5 Priyanshu's push floats long.
8-4 Priyanshu's overhead drop, cross-court off his forehand, falls wide.
8-3 Priyanshu is on fire in this game. Once again, Mithun has been extremely poor with his return. Sending down easy return to the centre of the court, giving Priyanshu plenty of options to place his drops/ smashes. Credit to Priyanshu for mixing it up well and he wins this point with another inside-out smash.
7-3 Sensational from the 18-year-old Priyanshu. From the baseline, drills a cross-court smash past Mithun's backhand.
6-3 Error from Priyanshu and Mithun reduces the parity by a point.
6-2 Oh, too good from Rajawat. Another down the line, forehand smash TO WIN THE POINT. Mithun has looked more defensive and tentative in the second game and that has allowed Priyanshu to run riot so far.
5-2 Priyanshu is all over Mithun in the second game and looks like he will be forcing a decider
4-2 389 KPH. Priyanshu is sending down some mighty smashes past Mithun.
3-2 Priyanshu is eager for another tap at the net, but this time the birdie fails to cross over.
3-1 Loose lift from back court by Mithun and it allows Priyanshu with enough time on the approach and play a tap for a winner.
2-1 Priyanshu is pumped as he gets this smash right. 397 kph. WOW.
1-1 Full-blooded half-smash down the line from Priyanshu, but it falls just wide.
1-0 Lovely service return from Priyanshu, who places it over Mithun to perfection.
Mithun to serve first.
GAME 1- Mithun wins 15-11
11-15 MITHUN MANJUNATH WINS HIS FIRST-EVER GAME IN HIS FIRST-EVER GAME AT THE PBL. The 21-year-old is beaming with confidence and has a real shot at breaking Priyanshu's Trump. Coming to the point, the Hunters player shoots a lift long.
11-14 Another good smash from Mithun. His tumble sets Priyanshu off, who skies the lift and then Mithun takes the opportunity with both hands by hammering a down the line smash.
11-13 Mithun approaches the net with great speed to hammer down a body line smash at Priyanshu, who has no answers with the retun.
10-12 What a rally. 31 shots long. Both players maneuvering the shuttle with excellence and in the end, Mithun places a down the line smash in the corner and Priyanshu has to dive to get it back. This means Mithun has the whole court to himself for a winner.
10-11 Half-smash from Priyanshu and it falls just wide. He challenges it and the replay shows that the birdie is wide. Well wide, actually.
10-10 Scores level again. Priyanshu with a delightful drop and Mithun can only hit it as far as the net.
9-10 Lead back with Mithun as Priyanshu concedes the point with an unforced error. Nets the cross-court, backhand flick.
9-9 Priyanshu is right back. A smash that Mithun isn't able to cross over the net.
8-9 Mithun calls for a review after hitting the forehand drive wide. The on-court decision was upheld.
7-9 Priyanshu shows he has got a monstrous smash too, as he makes the most of an easy lift from Mithun by winning the point with a down the line smash off his forehand.
6-9 How about that for a resumption? 383 kph smash down the line.
6-8 347 KPH SMASH AS MITHUN TAKES THE LEAD ON THE TURN. Good drop first, draws Priyanshu forward for a loopy lift and then closes the point with a cross-court, forehand smash.
6-7 Good smash from Mithun, as he aims it close to the body line of Priyanshu and the latter is only able to net the return.
6-5 Placement and timing. Brilliant badminton from Priyanshu. It was a half-smash down the line, alright. But it was still fast at 323 kph.
5-5 Scores level as Mithun nets an attempted smash.
4-5 Priyanshu claws back into the first game. He forces Mithun deep on his backhand by placing the shuttle into the corner over him. Mithun returns it loose and enables Priyanshu to drill in the smash.
3-4 Priyanshu plays the overhead backhand with soft hands and Mithun, despite lunging forward, isn't able to keep up.
1-3 Impressive beginning from Mithun. No nerves on debut thus far. Loose return from Priyanshu and Mithun attacks the net for a backhand push at the body of Priyanshu.
1-2 But this error doesn't take any confidence off Mithun as he nails a brilliant inside-out smash that Priyanshu returns wide.
1-1 Long rally and Priyanshu emerges on top as Mithun slams the attempted jump smash into the net.
0-1 Mithun wins his first PBL point with a forehand, down the line smash.
Mithun To serve first. Let's get going.
Mithun of Pune makes his PBL debut and is ranked higher than Priyanshu. This is Hyderabad's Trump match.
As easy as it gets. Pune takes a 1-0 lead with a straight-games, 15-12, 15-9 win by Hendra Setiawan/Chirag Shetty over Ben Lane/Sean Vendy.
Game 2- Hendra/Chirag win 15-9
9-15 GAME AND MATCH HENDRA AND CHIRAG. The pair's stellar run continues this season. Coming to the point, Vendy mis-hits a flat tap and the shuttle hits the edge of his racket and drops.
9-14 Lane with a great smash at Hendra, who attempts a return through his legs, but fails.
8-14 Chirag's drop end up into the net.
7-12 ONE MAN SHOW IN THIS POINT AND IT WAS CHIRAG. Lane and Vendy unleashed a flurry of smashes at Chirag, one after another, and the youngster returned them all with an incredible show of defence. Eventually, the Hunters pair shoot a lift long.
7-11 Brilliant serve from Vendy, who wins the point with an ace. Hendra is completely outfoxed
4-10 Lane's tumble at the net fails to cross over.
4-9 Vendy and Chirag go head-to-head but the former slaps the shuttle into the net.
4-8 The master is at work. A small exchange between Hendra and Lane. Hendra wins the point with a deceptive tap past Lane.
4-7 First into the body and second into the net. Vendy does well to negotiate the first smash from Hendra, but the latter nets the next one.
3-7 Ben Lane, from back court, nets the backhand, cross-court flick.
3-6 This time, Hendra pulls off a smash off his own, past Vendy's backhand.
3-5 What a return from Ben Lane. Hendra's serve is a tad loose and Lane is all over it with a hard smash. Hendra's return flies wide.
2-4 Chirag nets his backhand lift.
1-3 Hendra with a gigantic down the line smash and Ben Lane's left-handed forehand push slams into the net.
1-2 Another service error from Hendra. This time, the shuttle is into the net.
0-2 Vendy's smash shoots long and Chirag does well to back off and let the shuttle fall out.
0-1 Vendy's dribble at the net fails to cross over.
Hendra to serve first.
GAME 1- Hendra/Chirag win 15-12
12-15 AN ERROR ON THE SERVE FROM SEAN VENDY AS HENDRA/CHIRAG TAKE GAME 1. The serve was short, it grazes the tape and falls out of bounds.
12-14 Hendra misses a flat push, probably because of the lights, as Hyderabad pulls one back.
11-14 Ben Lane with a forehand, cross-court smash to pull a point back.
10-14 VINTAGE FROM THE MASTER, HENDRA. First, great flat exchanges between Vendy and Shetty and then Hendra, from back court, plays a delightful drop to force a loose return. Then charges to the net for a smashing winner.
10-13 What a rally! Lane and Vendy did so well to fend off the drops and smashes and eventually, Hendra closes the point with a smash at the net.
10-12 Setiawan's serve, the backhand flip, travels wide.
9-12 Shetty coming good with the smashes once again.
8-11 Great recovery from the Pune duo. Setiawan had to rush deep to his forehand for a get but Shetty compliments him well as he drills in a huge smash for a winner.
8-9 Shetty's return, from Vendy, finds the net.
7-9 Brutal and it's that man again. Hendra latches on to an easy lift at the net nd puts the point to bed with an easy put-away smash.
7-8 Hendra's flat, forehand push finds the net.
6-8 But the lead at the break is with Pune as once again, Hendra asserts his authority at the net with an overhead, half smash for the winner.
6-7 Brilliant drop from Vendy. Far at back court, he lines up for a jump smash and then plays it with soft hands.
4-7 Shetty with a hefty smash at Vendy's body line, whose return rams into the net.
3-5 Smart push from Lane. He makes full use of a poor service return from Shetty and has loads of space to place his backhand, cross-court push for a winner.
1-5 Chirag Shetty in the thick of action now as he smashes the shuttle in the gap between Lane and Vendy.
1-3 Can't afford to be loose with the returns when Hendra's at the net as he will punish you with half-smashes, just like he did there.
1-2 First point of the night for Lane and Vendy.
0-1 Instantly, a little help from the net for Setiawan, as his service return catches the tape and trickles over.
Hyderabad to serve first.
The players are all set to begin the proceedings in Hyderabad. It's men's doubles time.
Miracle needed for Hyderabad?
Hyderabad needs nothing short of a miracle to finish in Top 4 of the league table. Hyderabad, with just 10 points, is second from bottom. It will be taking on Pune 7 Aces , which is third in the table with 18 points.
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