Bulls' slide continues unabated

Bengaluru Bulls suffered another embarrassing loss, this time against Dabang Delhi KC, to end their home-leg of the Pro Kabaddi League Season-4 on a miserable note here at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday.

Riding on the fireworks from skipper Meraj Sheykh and the dangerous Kashiling Adake, Delhi hammered Bulls 40-20.

It was Bengaluru’s sixth straight defeat and their worst ever performance at home, suffering four consecutive losses here.

The win helped Delhi gain seven points and they remain at seventh spot with 20 points from eight games. For Bengaluru (21), who stay at the sixth spot, the semifinal possibilities are all but over. With just three matches remaining and their poor scoring difference (-55) not helping them, the Bulls are staring at an early exit.

In the first half, Kashiling began the assault on the Bulls with a superb raid, fighting past the hosts’ defenders to bag three points. Kashiling’s heroics inspired Delhi to produce their first all-out, which saw them take a 14-7 lead.

Ahead 15-8 after the first half, it was Sheykh’s turn to pile more misery on the hosts. The Iranian raider claimed two points, which was followed by the second all-out from the visitors. Delhi then grew from strength to strength and never allowed the Bulls to make a comeback.

Kashiling was the most successful raider of the match with 11 points. In the first match of the day, Telugu Titans pulled up their socks in the second half and produced a fine team effort to edge out Puneri Paltan.

The Titans, who were behind in the first half, were inspired by the in-form Rahul Chaudhari (10) and some solid all-round work from Sandeep Narwal (7) as they notched up a 32-29 victory over the Paltan. 

Pune received a point for keeping the defeat margin less than seven points and held on to their third spot with 29 points. The Titans climbed to the fourth spot with 29 points. Despite both the teams tied on 29 points, Pune stay ahead thanks to a better scoring difference. 

At a crucial juncture in the second-half, with the Pune leading 19-16, the Titans produced a super tackle to make it 19-18. Skipper Rahul bagged a point on his do-or-die raid to draw level for Titans.

The Titans’ improved defence, anchored by Sandeep, was then instrumental in inflicting an all-out as Pune saw themselves fall behind 20-22. Rahul’s brilliance in the attack then sealed the game in favour of the Titans.
DH News Service