UP Yoddha thrashed a much-changed Dabang Delhi KC 50-33 to enter the playoffs of the ProKabaddi League on Saturday.
Having comfortably qualified for the semifinal on the merit of being one of the top two teams, Dabang Delhi decided to use the game to test its bench strength. A side sans the likes of Naveen Kumar, Chandran Ranjith, Ravinder Pahal, Joginder Narwal and Vishal Mane featured in a game that UP Yoddha needed to win to make it through to the playoffs.
The UP side took full advantage of this in its home leg opener. Monu Goyat, who has had a quiet season so far, stepped up with 11 raid points to take UP through to the playoffs. An opposition barely offering any resistance helped the home side's cause.
MATCH BLOG| Pro Kabaddi season seven Greater Noida leg day one
Goyat picked up valuable raid points from the start and the UP side went on to secure its first all-out in the sixth minute to move to a 5-point lead. This continued to be the story until the half-time whistle. Only Meraj Sheykh's efforts helped the lague's pace setters stay in the hunt in some capacity. The first half ended 22-12 with UP Yoddha clearly in control of the game.
The home side picked up its second all-out of the match two minutes after the restart as Goyat picked up his Super 10. Nitesh Kumar and the defence ensured able support to Goyat and Co. as they kept Delhi's feeble attempts to pick up raid points in check.
UP's qualification directly put Jaipur Pink Panthers out of the playoff race.
Pardeep stars again as Patna pips Gujarat
A 17-point effort from star raider Pardeep Narwal helped Patna Pirates salvage a hard-fought against Gujarat Fortunegiants on Saturday.
After trailing by 11 points at a point, Patna staged a spirited comeback riding on skipper Pardeep's back.
Gujarat got off to a slow start and despite a good defensive effort in the first few minutes of the game found itself staring at an All-Out.
However, a series of Super Tackles - two on Pardeep Narwal and one on Mohammad Esmaeil Maghsoudlou, helped the Fortunegiants steady ship.
Patna continued to struggle with reviving Pardeep faster, which meant Gujarat had a window to make a comeback in the game. The first half ended 19-14 in Gujarat's favour.
Rohit Gulia's Super Raid kept Gujarat in the game in the early minutes of the second half, also inflicting an All-Out on Patna in the process.
Pardeep's aggression seemed to have rubbed off on the Pirates as they quickly recovered to return the favour to the opponent, reducing the lead to a solitary point.
GB More registered a Super 10, helping Gujarat maintain its lead going into the penultimate minute of the match. However, Jang Kun Lee, Maghsoudlou's strong tackle and a two-point raid from Pardeep sealed victory in its favour.
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