Prime Volleyball League: Kolkata Thunderbolts beat Calicut Heroes in final set tie-break— Highlights
Kolkata Thunderbolts beat Calicut Heroes 3-2 in the first match of the PVL in which the match was undecided till the final set.
Kolkata Thunderbolts beat Calicut Heroes 3-2
Kolkata Thunderbolts beat Calicut Heroes 3-2 in the third fixture of the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday, February 7. Ashwal Rai was named the Player of the Match.
Kolkata join Hyderabad Black Hawks and Ahmedabad Defenders at the top of the table with 1 win from 1 match.
As it happened:
Ajith Lal misses a winner! And Kolkata have the first match point! Ashwal does it again! A winner smashed into the centre of the court.
Kolkata snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in what has been the most thrilling match of the season so far!
Kolkata need a super effort now and they get it! A block off a super point gets them 2 points. Ashwal with a winner into the centre of the court. Just 1 point between the teams now. Calicut lead 12-11. And Ashwal does it again! Scores level.
Who will get the next 3 points first?
Calcutta hot on the comeback trail. A spike from senior player Vinit gets them within 2 points at 7-9. Kolkata then with a huge miss! Have an open court to hit at but hit the net. Moments of pressure. Ashwal then gets a shot in! Kolkata celebrate! But he touched the net. The point is given to Calicut.
Calicut were the favourites before the match, Kolkata dominated long passages of the match, but now they will be worried. Calicut sense an opening. The first time today they have been ahead in the game. Ajith booms a winner into no man's land. Calicut are closing in...
Both teams trade points. Things getting intense with both teams claiming a few points. Calicut nose ahead as Ajith Lal comes up with a super block this time. Calicut pull ahead in the deciding set!
And the all-important 5th set begins. Jerome serves, Calicut score the first point. Jerome with a faulty service. Scores level 1-1. Service errors have been the story of the day. Kolkata return the favour with a service error.
It's two sets a piece! For the first time in the PVL, the 5th set will be a tie-breaker! Calicut win the 4th set 15-12 despite a late Kolkata fightback.
Ajith Lal keeps spiking hard into the Kolkata court. Calicut believe they can win this match if Ajith can carry on in this vein.
Calicut are getting us closer to the first time in this season we will have a tiebreak in the fifth set!
Calicut, needing to win the 4th set to stay alive in the match, get into an early lead - Jerome at the centre of the action. A huge lead for Calicut at the halfway point.
Service errors the only chink in Kolkata's game still. But they convincingly seal the 3rd set, breaking away to take a big lead after the halfway mark.