Defending champions Patna Pirates and Haryana Steelers secured contrasting wins as the Inter-Zone Challenge week of the Pro Kabaddi League commenced at Kolkata on Tuesday. Haryana snapped leaders Bengal Warriors’ three-match winning streak at home with a 36-29 win while Pirates rode on Pradeep Narwal’s menacing raids to rout a depleted Jaipur Pink Panthers 47-21 in a lopsided contest.
He finished the match with 21 raid points, exactly the same points their opponents manage summing up the plight for the depleted Panthers. Pirates have been at their menacing best in the attack with ‘Dubki King’ Narwal, Monu Goyat (10) and Vinod Kumar, all shining for them to sign off the Kolkata leg on a high. Pirates now jumped to second place with 33 points from nine matches in Zone B, while Panthers remained on 28 from nine outings in Zone A.
Their defence may have looked weak but they were not tested much against Panthers for their seventh win over Panthers from 11 matches overall. Panthers, who defeated Zone A leaders Gujarat Fortune giants in their previous outing here, cut a sorry figure. Narwal reached the 100 milestone in style with a brilliant super raid and reduced their opponents to one man in the sixth minute for a 8-4 lead.
In the absence of their experienced duo of regular captain Manjeet Chillar who’s been sidelined because of an injury and Jasvir Singh (niggle), Panthers looked terribly out of sorts. Veteran Navneet Gautam was called upon to lead the side but they hardly troubled the two-time champions. In their desperate bid to come back, Pawan Kumar attempted a do-or-die raid but only to succumb to a resolute defence as Panthers trailed 5-14 with after eight minutes.
Warriors’ impressive home form comes to an end
Bengal Warriors were humbled by an inspired Haryana Steelers 36-29 in the second match of the day. The Warriors had won two and tied one game before coming into this contest. The Steelers never allowed their opponents to take the initiative, and went into the break with a solid eight-point lead.
Wazeer Singh (11 raid points), Surjeet Singh (8) and Mohit Chillar (4) were the anchors for their side. Bengal had a better second half and put pressure on the Steelers with Maninder Singh (14) putting up a fine show but all his efforts went in vain.
