Bengaluru Bulls move to fourth after win over U Mumba

Bengaluru Bulls moved above U Mumba in the vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 7 standings after a 35-33 win over them at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Friday. ‘Hi-Flyer’ Pawan Sehrawat played a huge role in the win yet again and finished with another Super 10.

It was level-pegging after the opening five minutes with the teams tied at 4-4. A two-point raid by Sehrawat subsequently gave the defending champions a two-point lead momentarily. However, U Mumba ate away at Bengaluru Bulls’ lead quickly to ensure it was 6-6 heading into the second quarter of the match. U Mumba then moved into the lead thanks to some efficient raiding by Abhishek Singh and Athul MS as well as some solid defending.

The Season 2 champions couldn’t keep their noses in front for too long though, as Bengaluru Bulls stepped on the gas in the closing stages of the half. A Super Raid by Sehrawat in the penultimate raid of the first period enforced an All-Out and gave Bengaluru Bulls a seven-point lead. Rohit Baliyan scored a point for U Mumba in the last raid of the half, but Bengaluru Bulls were still very much on top at the break with a 17-11 lead.

The defending champions began the second half with great intent as well as purpose and before too long had reduced U Mumba to just three men on court after seeing some good work on both ends of the mat. They were soon rewarded for their efforts as they inflicted a second All Out on U Mumba in the 27th minute to extend their lead to 28-16.

U Mumba didn’t let their heads drop and continued to fight, with Abhishek Singh pulling off successful raids more frequently, and their defence playing its part with decisive tackling. They eventually enforced an All-Out on Bengaluru Bulls with a little more than four minutes left to play and reduced the deficit to four points.

Some more incisive raiding by Abhishek, in tandem with robust tackling by the defence, reduced the deficit further to just two points. However, a crucial tackle on Abhishek initiated by Amit Sheoran in the penultimate minute and a successful Sehrawat raid in the last minute helped Bengaluru Bulls seal a two-point win.

Top Performers:

U Mumba –

Best Raider – Abhishek Singh (10 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Surinder Singh (3 Tackle Points)

Bengaluru Bulls –

Best Raider – Pawan Sehrawat (10 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Saurabh Nandal (5 Tackle Points)