PKL 2024: UP Yoddhas break losing streak, U Mumba win a tight game

Noida Indoor Stadium was the setting for an intense contest on Thursday as U Mumba held off a late rally from Tamil Thalaivas to clinch a 35-32 victory.

Manjeet led the charge for U Mumba, scoring 10 points, including eight raid points, while Ajit Chouhan added another eight raid points to the team's total. Despite a late surge from Tamil Thalaivas, U Mumba’s strong first-half performance and solid defense helped them secure the win.

The match got off to a dominant start for U Mumba, who executed a successful All-Out in the 6th minute, sending all Tamil Thalaivas players off the mat and giving them an early advantage.

This was the beginning of a commanding first half, where U Mumba’s aggressive approach allowed them to control the pace. Ajit Chouhan’s Super Raid in the 18th minute further extended their lead, and by halftime, U Mumba was well in control with a 23-12 advantage.

The second half saw U Mumba maintaining their dominance, extending their lead to 10 points with five minutes left on the clock. Despite a quiet first half, Tamil Thalaivas’ Sachin took 24 minutes to score his first point of the match, a blow to the team's momentum. U Mumba continued to outplay their opponents, with Chouhan and Manjeet working in sync to keep the pressure on.

Tamil Thalaivas struggled to find their rhythm, as star raiders Narender Kandola and Sachin failed to score throughout the game. As the match drew to a close, Tamil Thalaivas' Moein Shafaghi attempted a late comeback with a Super Raid, taking out three U Mumba players and inflicting an All-Out. However, it was too little too late, as U Mumba held on to win by a narrow three-point margin.

In the other game of the day, UP Yoddhas clinched a hard-fought victory over Telugu Titans, ending their four-match winning streak with a 40-34 triumph.

After four unsuccessful attempts, UP Yoddhas finally registered a victory, powered by Super 10s from Bhavani Rajput and Bharat. Despite a stellar Super 10 from Telugu Titans' Vijay Malik, it wasn’t enough to halt the Yoddhas’ resurgence.

The game began on a cautious note, with both teams watching for any significant openings. Telugu Titans' "Hi-Flyer" Pawan Sehrawat took the lead early, securing four of the team’s first six points and giving them a narrow two-point advantage. However, UP Yoddhas responded quickly with a Super Tackle on Sehrawat, leveling the score and gaining momentum.

A swift exchange of points ensued, with UP Yoddhas inching ahead by three until Vijay Malik’s remarkable four-point Super Raid turned the tide momentarily in favor of Telugu Titans. They pressed their advantage, executing an All-Out on UP Yoddhas to secure a three-point lead.

Bhavani Rajput and Bharat kept UP Yoddhas in the game, chipping away at the gap to close the first half trailing by just four points at 20-16. Telugu Titans’ defense, led by Ankit with a crucial Super Tackle, held firm to keep their lead intact heading into the break.

The second half saw UP Yoddhas launching an all-out attack. A powerful Super Tackle from Hitesh helped them take the lead and execute an All-Out on Telugu Titans. With both teams trading points, the match remained neck-and-neck, locked at 25 points apiece as they entered the final stretch.

The closing minutes saw UP Yoddhas pulling ahead with a four-point cushion, thanks to Bhavani Rajput’s Super 10, which included another All-Out on Telugu Titans. Despite Vijay Malik’s outstanding performance for the Titans, the absence of their captain Pawan Sehrawat, who was sidelined due to an injury, proved costly.

Ultimately, Bharat clinched his own Super 10 for UP Yoddhas, sealing the victory in this nail-biting encounter