PKL 2019: Gujarat FortuneGiants trumps Dabang Delhi, remains unbeaten

 

With this victory, Gujarat moves to second place with 15 points in 3 matches. Delhi stays on top with 16 points and a game in hand.  Delhi succumbs to its first defeat of the season.

 

EMPTY RAID BY NAVEEN KUMAR AND GUJARAT FORTUNEGIANTS REMAIN UNBEATEN. MORE GB has been the man for Gujarat tonight. He chipped in with 4 tackle points and 5 raid points. You've got to feel for Naveen Kumar. A super10 against Gujarat, 41 points in 4 matches including 4 super10s.

31-26: Rohit Gulia is brought down comprehensively by Saied Ghaffari.

31-25: Less than a minute to go as Gujarat extends its lead to 6. Great tackle by Ankit on Ranjit, who still hasn't made an impact this half.

29-24: Super10 by Naveen Kumar. A lone fighter for his team, really.

29-23: Sachin comes back home with 2 points. Tremendous raid under pressure.

Less than 3 minutes to go as we head into another timeout.

 

27-23: 9th raid point by Naveen Kumar. In a game dominated by defenders, it's Kumar who has stood out in the raiding department. Scrambles back safely as he safely evades a poor ankle hold by Ankit. Can he pick up his 3rd super10 in his 4th game?

Just 4 minutes to go and it's a 5-point game.

27-22: Ranjit is floored as is yet to score a point in the second half. Easy tackle point by the Fortunegiants.

26-22: Review by Delhi, challenging a bonus attempt by Gulia and they fail.

25-21: Naveen Kumar gets an easy raid point with a flying kick. Very sloppy attempt by Sumit, it looked ineffective from the moment he set out.

During the time-out, Gujarat's coach can be heard telling his players that under 5 minutes are left, take the bonus and use at least 28 second of the alloted 30 for the raid.

 

25-20: surrender raid comes in from Delhi as Gujarat inflicts an all-out on Delhi. What a major slump in form and momentum for Delhi. Absolutely poor defending and you can't afford to do that when Gujarat is looking dangerous on the other side of the mat.

 

21-20: Sombir off the bench and back to it instantly. Poor ankle hold attempt on More GB, who proved to be too strong for the Delhi defender.

20-20: SUPER TACKLE BY DELHI. THE SCORES ARE LEVEL ONCE AGAIN. Ranjit initiates the ankle hold Ghaffari chips in with a wrestle hold. Under 9 minutes to go.

17-18: Gujarat regain the lead as Rohit Gulia elopes from a double ankle hold. Once again, Pahal commits a blunder and Delhi is struggling to keep hold of the lead.

 

16:18- Naveen goes in and pulls off a great dupki, dodging the chain tackle completely to send Ankit and More GB back. What a move.

 

16:16- scores are level again, and this time for sure. Rohit Gulia takes out two defenders, Ranjit and Vishal Mane at once and Delhi reduced to 4 on the mat.

14:16- Gujarat draw back level through a great tackle by brothers Sunil and Sumit before Sumit was sent out for a jersey pull.

13:15- Second tackle point by Ravinder Pahal. He came in with a low double ankle hold as Sachin tried to jump his way out of trouble.  Pahal took a blow, but he is fine now.

13:14-Great tackle by all-rounder Gulia. Vijay  not helping Delhi's cause as he gifts a tackle point. Deficit down to just 1.

12-14: Ranjit walks right into the trap, laid by Sunil Kumar. Three lines of defence by the Fortunegiants. What a start to the second half.

SECOND HALF

The first half comes to an end with Naveen Kumar (5 pts) and Chandran Ranjit (3 pts) leading the attack for Delhi. On the other hand, both Rohit Gulia and More Gb have scored 3 points each. This game can go anywhere as Gujarat only trail by 3 points.

 

11:14- last raid of the first half by More GB and he goes back empty handed.

10-14: 2 raid points by Chandran. He takes out Bhainswal and Ankit. Parvesh failed with his ankle hold and Ranjit on the way back, caught Ankit as well. What a beauty!

10-12: ALL-OUT  The first all-out of the game goes to Dabang Delhi. This is why this sport is so unpredicatble. All along the first half, Gujarat had been leading. A few errors and look how Delhi's made them pay.

9-9: Sonu makes a defensive error and gifts a point to Naveen and Delhi. Gujarat staring at an all-out.

9-7: Sonu comes in as the first substitute. Goes back with an empty raid.

LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO GO IN THE FIRST HALF AND DELHI IS SLOWLY BEGINNING TO MAKE INROADS

9-7: Lovely dash by Naveen Kumar as he makes use of his speed and agility to make a desperate dash to the centre line and in the process, takes More GB out.

8-5: Do-or-die raid and Chandran Ranjit is keeping Delhi afloat. Ankit in the right corner couldn't contain Ranjit back.

8-4: Do-or-die raid and GB More has been given the responsibillity. The bonus was on, but More caught Ravinder Pahal caught napping again. Too late an ankle hold attempt by Pahal and he is showing his way to the bench.

7-4: Do-or-die raid for Delhi and Parvesh Bhainswal clamps on Naveen Kumar's left leg and other defenders join the tackle. Lead back to three points with Gujarat.

6-3: Ravinder Pahal stops a flying Sachin in his tracts, which gives Joginder and co. enough time to get hold off the Gujarat raider. Delhi, slowly, coming to the party.

6-2: Naveen Kumar gets off the mark with an easy touch point.

5-1: Chain tackle by Sumit and GB More as Gujarat takes a 4-point lead.

3-1: Do-or-die raid for Gujarat and Delhi scores the first point of the day, courtesy good work in the defence by Joginder Narwal. Naveen Kumar back is to the mat.

3-0: Sumit from the left corner floors Naveen Kumar as Gujarat scores the first tackle point.

2-0: Two empty raids for Delhi. Do-or-die raid coming up next.

2-0: Rohiy Gulia makes it 2-0 with another bonus point.

1-0: Sachin of Gujarat gets the team off the mark with a bonus point

First half: Both teams unbeaten so far, let's get started and find out which team will suffer its first loss today.

Toss: Delhi wins the toss and Gujarat to raid first

 

Teams: Gujarat Fortunegiants- Sachin, Sunil Kumar, Parvesh Bhainswal, More GB, Rohit Gulia, Ankit, Sumit Subs: Vinod Kumar, Abolfazl Maghsodlou, Ruturaj Koravi, Amit, Sonu Dabang Delhi K.C.- Naveen Kumar, Vishal Mane, Saeid Ghaffari,Vijay, Chandran Ranjit, Ravinder Pahal, Joginder Narwal Subs: Sombir, Anil Kumar, Balram, Sumit Kumar, Meraj Sheykh

 

HEAD-TO-HEAD (OVERALL) Overall: Matches – 6| Gujarat Fortunegiants – 4| Dabang Delhi – 1| Tie – 1 Gujarat Fortunegiants have dominated this H2H winning 4 of the 6 matches played between these 2 teams. In PKL 5 Gujarat did a clean sweep winning all 3 matches against Delhi But in PKL 6 each team won once with one tie in their 3 matches against each other The last game between these two sides was won by Delhi 29-26 during Gujarat’s home leg This was Gujarat’s only loss in their home leg of PKL 6. Gujarat Fortunegiants PKL 7 Record 2 wins, 0 losses, 0 ties Last match: Beat UP Yoddha 44-19 Dabang Delhi PKL 7 Record 3 wins, 0 losses, 0 ties Last match: Beat Haryana Steelers 41-21 Delhi have won the first 3 matches of the season for the first time in history