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LIVE BLOG | PBL LIVE: Tai Tzu Ying to play trump, Bengaluru Raptors vs Pune 7 Aces - SF2
North Eastern Warriors, the first finalist of Premier Badminton League (PBL) season five, will now await the winner of tomorrow's semifinal between the Bengaluru Raptors and Pune 7 Aces. The final will be on Sunday (February 9).
15-10: NORTH EASTERN WARRIORS REACH PBL-5 FINAL!!!!!!! They finish it off in three matches. Bodin Isara and Krishna Prasad Garaga put up a performance for the ages.
11-8: Three-point lead for the Warriors now! It could be all over for Chennai in some time. Bodin and Krishna are clearly on top of their opponents here.
8-6: Bodin just drilled it down on Sumeeth there. North Eastern Warriors with the lead at the break. Chennai Superstarz staring at elimination.
6-4: Chennai on the attack, however, Sumeeth looks really tired here. This is his sixth game of the tie. He's been involved in over 140 points tonight. But somehow he has to hold on.
4-1: In this vital game for Chennai Superstarz, Bodin Isara is making the difference for North Eastern Warriors. Eleven points separating the Warriors and a spot in the final.
GAME - 2
14-15: Chennai Superstarz stay alive in the tournament! Another unforced error from Bodin as Sumeeth and Dhruv take the game 15-14 on deciding point.
12-13: Can't get closer than this!!! Both teams are failing with the serve. But they've put up a wonderful display of badminton. Chennai's hopes hanging in the balance.
9-10: Bodin and Krishna with amazing teamwork here. They are setting up points for each other. Chennai has to shift gears at least now to stand any chance in this tie.
6-9: Much-needed three-point lead for the Superstarz here. Bodin misses a return once again. Sumeeth and Dhruv playing a good defensive game now. But let's see if that will help them win the game.
5-5: A number of unforced errors from the Warriors duo. Sumeeth and Dhruv are just hanging in there. They need to win some points in succession to get the advantage here.
3-2: Krishna Prasad lets out a loud cry as he gives his side the lead with a smash. The Warriors are 12 points away from its first-ever PBL final.
GAME - 2
15-13: North Eastern Warriors take the lead in the men's doubles encounter! The team is one game away from the final. Dhruv and Sumeeth have to somehow win the remaining two games to keep their side in contention tonight.
13-13: Bodin and Krishna are complementing each other well. The latter's serve and net play has been phenomenal so far.
11-11: Bodin finishes off a 30-shot rally in style. Beautiful placement from the Thai star. Dhruv and Sumeeth are in desperation mode here.
9-8: Pretty close now! North East has been the better team though in the last few points. Sumeeth and Dhruv need to improve their service game.
7-5: Sumeeth and Dhruv are not finishing off points and this might hurt them big time later in the clash. Bodin and Krishna are returning well.
5-3: Two-point lead for the warriors now. Bodin and Krishna Prasad are exhibiting better reflexes. Sumeeth and Dhruv need to minimise errors because they are the team in the must-win situation.
2-2: Great start to the men's doubles clash. End-to-end stuff from both teams so far. Amazing smashes on display as well.
GAME - 1
The players are out and Chennai is in a spot of bother here. A loss in the next game for the Superstarz will send North Eastern Warriors into the final of PBL-5.
We will witness Chennai Superstarz's trump match next! It's men's doubles time. Must-win for Chennai!
15-12: And as expected, Lee Cheuk Yiu seals the second game 15-12 to beat Tommy Sugiarto. This was a match between injured warriors. Both weren't at their best.
13-12: Cheuk Yiu with a few unforced errors. But he will not be bothered because he's been dominating Sugiarto for most part of the game.
11-9: Lee Cheuk Yiu is running away with the game now. Tommy Sugiarto looks tired and he's not going for the winners. He's just happy to return.
8-7: Lee Cheuk Yiu has the one-point advantage at the break. Sugiarto's movement on the court has not been up to the mark tonight. The only way for the Chennai player to turn this around is by attacking.
5-5: SCORES LEVEL NOW!!! Lee Cheuk Yiu has clearly played better tonight but his unforced errors have kept Sugiarto in the game so far.
2-3: Tommy Sugiarto takes the lead for the very first time this match. However, both players are refraining themselves from going into attack mode.
GAME - 2
15-12: North Eastern Warriors' Lee Cheuk Yiu seals the first game 15-12 against Chennai Superstarz's Tommy Sugiarto. Lee Cheuk Yiu looked casual throughout the first game there. Sugiarto has try something different in the next game.
12-11: Sugiarto slowly making a comeback here. The Chennai man also had fever a few days back. Both players are not at their 100 per cent and waiting for their opponent to make mistakes.
11-6: Five-point lead for Lee Cheuk Yiu. Tommy Sugiarto looks way off-colour tonight. He has to step up big time from here on. Both of them are on the defensive as well.
8-5: Three-point lead for Lee Cheuk Yiu at the break. The Warriors man looks injured and is playing a defensive game. His right knee is strapped. Sugiarto might want to capitalise on this.
5-2: Lee Cheuk Yiu takes the early lead for North Eastern Warriors. Few unforced errors from the experienced Tommy Sugiarto here.
GAME - 1
Tommy Sugiarto and Lee Cheuk Yiu are ready!
Next up, we move on to the first men's singles of the night!
15-14: Lee Yong Dae and Kim Ha Na draw first blood in this semifinal! They take the final game 15-14! Poor serve from Jessica on that deciding point and Yong Dae took care of the rest.
13-13: It's very close now. Nothing much to separate the two teams here. Let's see which pair is calmer under pressure.
11-12: CHENNAI BAGS THE LEAD NOW! Yong Dae and Ha Na are kind of throwing this away. Sumeeth and Jessica have minimised the errors.
9-9: SCORES LEVEL NOW!!! Sumeeth and Jessica Pugh are just smashing everything here. Yong Dae and Ha Na on the backfoot now.
9-6: Chennai is going on the attack here. Sumeeth and Jesica are coming up with some delightful smashes.
6-4: Warriors take a two-point lead now. Some very casual errors from Sumeeth and Pugh. Yong Dae and Ha Na are being defensive, on the other hand.
2-3: Another long rally! This is end-to-end stuff from both teams. Despite losing the point, Jessica's smash returns were marvellous!
GAME - 3
9-15: Chennai makes it one-all after winning the second game 15-9! The Warriors' defensive approach did get them a couple of points but Sumeeth just went for the smash on a Ha Na serve to seal the game.
7-13: Chennai is clearly running away with the game now. Another 30-plus shot rally as well. Yong Dae and Ha Na have served poorly this game.
5-11: Amazing serve from Sumeeth Reddy. Ha Na was completely wrongfooted there. Chennai maintaining its six-point lead here.
3-9: How did the experienced Lee Yong Dae miss that smash. Unbelievable error from the Korean!! Six-point lead for Chennai now.
2-7: Finally a break in serve. Sumeeth hits the net during a smash to give the Warriors something to cheer for this game.
1-4: Three-point lead for Chennai now. Sumeeth and Jessica have started out aggressively here. Yong Dae and Ha Na are making several unforced errors.
GAME - 2
15-12: Yong Dae and Ha Na take the first game 15-12! After an initial struggle the Warriors pair has dominated the first game.
13-11: Poor serve from Ha Na and great reaction from Pugh. However, it's still a two-point lead for the Warriors.
11-9: Two-point lead for the Warriors here. Some poor returns from Sumeeth. Ha Na is just waiting to smash at the net and you can't make these many errors.
8-7: A Lee Yong Dae smash tilts the balance towards the Warriors at the break. Chennai got a bit defensive there and North East has capitalised on that.
4-5: That was a 42-shot rally. Great stuff from all four shuttlers. However, the Warriors were lucky there as Ha Na's return just brushed the net and fell on the other side.
2-4: Chennai takes the early lead here. Brilliant play from Jessica Pugh at the net. Sumeeth too is coming up with amazing smashes.
GAME - 1
First up, we have the mixed doubles clash!
ORDER OF PLAY: (North Eastern Warriors vs Chennai Superstarz)
Mixed Doubles - Lee Yong Dae/Kim Ha Na beat Sumeeth Reddy/Jessica Pugh 15-12, 9-15, 15-14.
Men's Singles - Lee Cheuk Yiu beat Tommy Sugiarto 15-12, 15-12.
Men's Doubles - Bodin Isara/Krishna Prasad Garaga beat (Trump Match) Sumeeth Reddy/Dhruv Kapila 15-13, 14-15, 15-10.
Women's Singles - Michelle Li (Trump Match) vs Kirsty Gilmour. (Not played)
Men's Singles - Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk vs Lakshya Sen. (Not played)
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