PKL Qualifier 2: Gujarat Fortunegiants enters final by beating U.P Yoddha

Gujarat Fortunegiants beat U.P Yoddha 38-31 in the second qualifier of the Pro Kabaddi League to set up the final clash with Bengaluru Bulls.

K. Prapanjan of Gujarat Fortunegiants escapes a tackle by Jeeva Kumar.

Gujarat Fortunegiants, displaying solid defensive qualities and confidence all round, brushed aside U.P Yoddha 38-31 in the second qualifier of Pro Kabaddi League 2018. It is the second consecutive appearance in the final for Gujarat, which finished runners-up to Patna Pirates last season. This time Gujarat will face Bengaluru Bulls in the final at the NSCI indoor stadium, Mumbai on Saturday.

Sachin Tanwar, one of the players retained by Gujarat, proved his worth with a controlled show in the rival half. He scored nine raid points and one tackle point for the only 10-pointer of the night. Tilting the scale were defenders Hadi Ostorak, Sunil Kumar, Sachin Vittala (three each) with some assistance from Parvesh Bhainswal.

Read: As it happened

U.P Yoddha defender Nitesh Kumar, despite committing some errors, claimed another High 5, his eighth of the season. Nitesh also became the first player in the history of Pro Kabaddi League to reach 100 tackle points in a single season.

Gujarat's Rohit Gulia gets a touch on U.P Yoddha's Nitesh Kumar.

Gujarat Fortuengiants inflicted the first all out of the match just before half time to a lead 19-14 lead into the second half.
U.P Yoddha succumbed to a second all out while giving away 11 points to Gujarat. During, this phase, U.P was unable to score a single point as captain Rishank Devadiga had to be withdrawn in what appeared to be an ankle injury.

There was a late surge by U.P at the end, but Gujarat made use of the clock wisely to see out the result 38-31.

The final between Gujarat Fortunegiants and Bengaluru Bulls will take place at the OME@NSCI SVP Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday, at 8:00 PM (IST).