PKL 2018-19 highlights: Haryana holds Thalaivas, Bengal eases past Telugu Titans
A mistake by Tamil Thalaivas' captain Ajay Thakur allowed Haryana Steelers to draw the match 40-40, Bengal Warriors walked past a depleted Telugu Titans side 39-34.
Published : Dec 25, 2018 19:45 IST
Welcome to SportStar's live blog of today's Pro Kabaddi League 2018 matches of Haryana Steelers vs Tamil Thalaivas and Bengal Warriors vs Telugu Titans at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indoor Stadium, Kolkata.
Bengal Warriors vs Telugu Titans
39-34 Bengal captain Surjeet, who is a defender by trade, gets two touch points with the final raid of the match. The all out is not enough for Telugu Titans, as it finishes it campaign with 51 points from 22 points to finishes fifth in the Zone B above Tamil Thalaivas. Bengal Warriors climbs up to second in the standings.
36-33 Armaan gets Vijin Thangadurai and Surjeet to inflict an all-out on Bengal. And out of nowhere, Telugu Titans has reduced the difference to three points.
36-29 Adarsh makes a desperate dash at Farhad Milaghardan near the midline even though it was not required. Bengal down to two players now.
36-28 Jang Kun Lee is floored by the right chain of Krushna Madane and Armaan.
36-27 Farhad Milaghardan gets two touch points with a dubki near the midline.
36-25 A Super Tackle executed by the Iranian duo Abozar Mighani and Farhad Milaghardan gives Telugu Titans two points.
36-23 Surjeet puts Rakshith in an inescapable ankle hold to extend his team's lead. The Bengal skipper also gets his High 5 with that tackle.
35-23 Farhad Milaghardan gets a running-hand touch on the left corner.
34-22 Easy pickings for Bengal Warriors! Rajnish is put in a double-thigh hold and walks to the bench.
33-22 Ziaur Rahman makes a superb block to slow down Armaan on the left cover and the Bengal defence pins the raider down to the mat.
31-22 Abozar Mighani is moved to his favorable right cover and he comes up with a super ankle hold on Jang Kun Lee. Krushna Madane swoops in for the assist from the left cover.
30-21 Maninder Singh is tackled successfully for the first time in this match. This time it is a chain attempt that manages to take down the towering raider.
30-20 Rakshith gets two points back for Telugu Titans.
30-18 Ravindra Kumawat makes it a bonus plus three touch points on his way back to the midline.
26-17 Maninder Singh becomes the fastest to reach 500 raid points in Pro Kabaddi League history. He has done it in 56 matches, two less than Patna Pirates' Pardeep Narwal.
25-17 Another raid by Rajnish, a kick on Ran Singh on the right corner. The Bengal captain is out of the game immediately after being revived.
24-16 Rajnish gets a kick on Ran Singh with the first raid of the half. Maninder Singh gets one more point by raiding the right corner.
First Half
22-15 Rajnish gets a point for Telugu Titans with a successful raid. Maninder Singh gets his Super 10 with another raid on the right cover.
21-14 Armaan pinches the bonus line, but goes back to get a touch. However, the 30 seconds of raid time is over and it's an all-out for Bengal.
15-12 Farhad Milaghardan goes for a tackle on Maninder Singh in a Do-or-Die but the raider evades it easily. Bengal extends its lead back.
14-12 Bengal players think that they have gotten an all-out, but Armaan asks for a review. The decision goes in Telugu Titans' favour as replays show that Armaan has picked up a bonus point and two touches.
9-13 Kamal Singh ducks at the right corner, but he is unable to escape Maninder Singh's long reach.
11-7 Maninder Singh easily gets to the midline despite Krushna Madane's attempt to put him in an ankle hold. The Bengal raider turns around and gets a touch on Manoj Kumar.
7-7 Ravindra Kumawat tries to get out of the central area, but Telugu Titans defence surrounds him quickly. The Titans are level on points despite not having captain Vishal Bharadwaj on the mat or on the bench.
7-5 Despite having three players on the mat, Telugu Titans gets back-to-back Super Tackles to reduce the points difference to two.
6-0 Jang Kun Lee gets a Super Raid and gets four touch points. Is Telugu Titans unravelling without the core players?
2-0 Maninder Singh gets a bonus pint and toe touch on the right corner. No Nilesh Salunke or Rahul Chaudhari in the team or on the bench for Telugu Titans today. Abozar Mighani is on the bench.
Lineups
Bengal Warriors Ravindra Kumawat, Surjeet Singh, Ziaur Rahman, Jang Kun Lee, Maninder Singh, Baldev Singh, Ran Singh Subs: Manoj Dhull, Ashish Chhokar, T. Adarsh, Amit Nagar, Vijin Thangadurai Telugu Titans Kamal Singh, Farhad Milaghardan, C. Manoj Kumar, Rajnish, Armaan, Sombir, Krushna Madane Subs: Deepak, Abozar Mighani, Mohsen Maghsoudlou, Mahender Reddy, Rakshith |
- Bengal Warriors has won both encounters between the sides this season by a similar 30-25 margin. The win in Mumbai saw Baldev Singh and Farhad Milaghardan return High 5s for both sides.
- Maninder Singh has been stupendous in Season 6 for Bengal Warriors scoring 168 raid points in 18 matches for his side, 106 more than the next best. He has scored 17 raid points against Telugu Titans this season including a Super 10.
Head-to-head: Bengal Warriors 7-3 Telugu Titans
Form Guide:
| Bengal Warriors | RESULT(W-T-L) | POINTS SCORED | POINTS CONCEDED |
| Vs. Dabang Delhi K.C. | LOST | 31 | 37 |
| Vs. Patna Pirates | WON | 39 | 23 |
| Vs. Tamil Thalaivas | WON | 27 | 24 |
| Vs. Tamil Thalaivas | WON | 28 | 21 |
| Vs. U Mumba | LOST | 20 | 31 |
| TOTAL | 3-1-1 | 145 | 136 |
| Telugu Titans | RESULT(W-T-L) | POINTS SCORED | POINTS CONCEDED |
| Vs. Puneri Paltan | LOST | 20 | 35 |
| Vs. Bengaluru Bulls | LOST | 28 | 44 |
| Vs. Patna Pirates | WON | 41 | 36 |
| Vs. Bengaluru Bulls | LOST | 24 | 37 |
| Vs. U.P. Yoddha | LOST | 20 | 27 |
| TOTAL | 1-0-4 | 133 | 189 |
Haryana Steelers vs Tamil Thalaivas
Second Half
40-40 Vikas Kandola pinches a point with the final raid and Ajay Thakur is looking embarrassed for what happened to him on the penultimate raid of the match. The Tamil Thalaivas brought his team back into the game more than few occasions in this match, but it was his complacency at the end that cost his team the game. Both the teams are still at the bottom of the table in both zones.
39-40 It is another comical moment in this match! Ajay Thakur looks back at his team and looking to wind down the clock. But Haryana Steelers sneak in behind him and carry him to the back of the court.
37-39 Haryana Steelers seems to be discussing something when Ajay Thakur jumps in, gets a touch and goes back. The defensive chain turns towards the umpire, but the official points towards the bench.
36-38 Monu Goyat is tackled successfully by the Tamil Thalaivas defence and Ajay Thakur gets an easy toe touch on the right cover.
36-36 Thalaivas have given the lead away! Amit Hooda goes for a failed double-ankle hold on Vikas Kandola, which has not worked until now in this match.
35-36 The right cover has been a gaping hole in the Tamil Thalaivas defence and another fault in that area gives Monu Goyat chance to pick up two raid points to reduce the gap to one point.
32-35 Ajay Thakur becomes the second player in Pro Kabaddi League history to get 200 raid points in two seasons. His team has not consistently turned up this season, but he has been reliable as ever.
31-33 Monu Goyat gets a bonus point with raid on the right corner.
28-32 A stunning Super Raid by Ajay Thakur sweeps three Haryana players off the mat and reaches his Super 10 and the second all-out for his team.
27-26 A Super Raid by Ajay Thakur takes out three Haryana players out to reduces the gap to one point.
27-23 Arun is dragged to the midline by Vikas Kandola. Ajay Thakur guesses right by not going for his teammate's aid, but Kandola makes a slight contact on the captain. It is an all-out for Haryana Steelers.
22-21 Monu Goyat gets a running-hand touch on Ponparthiban, who has been the weak link for Tamil Thalaivas in this match.
20-21 Vikas Kandola seemed to get a shoulder touch on Ajay Thakur. Tamil Thalaivas goes for a review and gets the decision overturned. Vikas Kandola is given out despite the raider not stepping out of the lobby on his way back.
19-20 Anand gets a touch point, but another error by Ponparthiban and Tamil Thalaivas loses Sukesh Hegde who is in the chain.
15-19 Prateek pinches the bonus line, but he is unable to escape the double-thigh hold by Amit Hooda and it is the first all-out of the match for Tamil Thalaivas.
First Half
14-16 A similar raid to the previous one, Anand pushes away an advancing defender on the right corner and reduces Haryana to one man before the half-time.
14-15 Anand does extremely well to turn around from the right corner and gets two touches on his way, before doing a mini-cartwheel to get past the midline.
14-13 Naveen is tackled down successfully by the Tamil Thalaivas defence.
13-12 Kuldeep goes for an unnecessary ankle hold on C. Arun in a Do-or-Die raid for Tamil Thalaivas.
11-11 Haryana pulls things level with a super-tackle executed by Naveen on Ajay Thakur.
8-10 Ajay Thakur does a superman! The Tamil Thalaivas skipper fakes a turn and then gets a flying-hand touch on the left cover defender.
8-7 C. Arun gets a double-thigh hold on Vikas Kandola, but the raider drags him to the midline.
5-6 A silly mistake by Ponparthiban on Monu Goyat gets a point for Haryana Steelers. Goyat goes back to pick up a tackle point with a double-thigh hold on Sukesh Hegde.
4-3 That was a dangerous tackle by Parveen on Ajay Thakur. The defender meets the opposition skipper head on to push him out of the lobby. Thakur winces in pain on the sidelines.
4-2 Naveen takes out Ponparthiban with a running hand touch and it's the first raid point for Haryana.
3-1 Parveen is pushed towards the left cover by Haryana and he conjures a strong ankle hold on Ajay Thakur. First point for Haryana.
3-0 Anand hops to the midline with ease despite Kuldeep getting an ankle hold on him. Haryana captain Monu Goyat gets himself out by stepping out on to the lobby thinking that he had a touch.
1-0 Ajay Thakur gets a running-hand touch to get the first point for Tamil Thalaivas.
Lineups
Haryana Steelers Naveen, Mayur Shivtarkar, Parveen, Vikas Kandola, Monu Goyat, Sunil, Kuldeep Singh Subs: Prateek, Patrick Muvai, Sachin Shingade, Sudhanshu Tyagi, Amit Singh Tamil Thalaivas Sukesh Hegde, Ponparthiban, C. Arun, Ajay Thakur, Anand, Amit Hooda, D. Pradap Subs: Abhinandan Chandel, M.S. Athul, D. Gopu, Victor Obiero, J. Darshan |
- Both the previous encounters between the teams have ended with honours even, giving both teams an opportunity to score a first-ever victory over the other in this Inter-Zone Wildcard match.
- Ajay Thakur currently sits fourth on the list of Best Raiders in Season 6 with 186 raid points and, if he manages to add 14 more raid points to his tally against Haryana Steelers, Thakur will become only the second man in Pro Kabaddi history to have multiple campaigns with over 200 raid points.
Head-to-head: Haryana Steelers 0 - 0 Tamil Thalaivas. 2 ties.
Form Guide:
| Haryana Steelers | RESULT(W-T-L) | POINTS SCORED | POINTS CONCEDED |
| Vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers | LOST | 30 | 39 |
| Vs. Gujarat Fortunegiants | LOST | 37 | 47 |
| Vs. Telugu Titans | LOST | 31 | 35 |
| Vs. U.P. Yoddha | LOST | 29 | 30 |
| Vs. Bengal Warriors | WON | 35 | 33 |
| TOTAL | 1-0-4 | 162 | 184 |
| Tamil Thalaivas | RESULT(W-T-L) | POINTS SCORED | POINTS CONCEDED |
| Vs. Bengal Warriors | LOST | 24 | 27 |
| Vs. U.P. Yoddha | TIED | 25 | 25 |
| Vs. Bengal Warriors | LOST | 21 | 28 |
| Vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers | LOST | 24 | 37 |
| Vs. Dabang Delhi K.C. | LOST | 33 | 37 |
| TOTAL | 0-1-4 | 127 | 154 |