The Puneri Paltan extended their unbeaten streak to four matches with a commanding victory over the lacklustre Gujarat Giants at the GMCB Indoor Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, on Monday evening. The Paltan secured a decisive win with a score of 49-30, highlighted by Akash Shinde’s impressive 11 points and standout performances from defenders Abinesh Nadarajan, Gaurav Khatri, and Aman, each contributing a Hi-5. For the Gujarat Giants, Guman Singh was the lone standout with 13 points.
Dominant start from Paltans
Defending champions Puneri Paltan came out of the gate strong, quickly establishing an early lead against the struggling Gujarat Giants, who faced challenges in the opening minutes. Just five minutes into the match, Abinesh Nadarajan executed a crucial all-out against the Gujarat Giants, placing the Season 10 champions firmly in control.
Paltan’s commanding lead
As the first half progressed, the Puneri Paltan maintained a nine-point lead, with Akash Shinde and Abinesh Nadarajan driving the team forward. Guman Singh was left to fight a solitary battle for the Giants, who found themselves further pressured after suffering a second ALL OUT. By halftime, the Puneri Paltan had established a commanding 30-9 lead.
Continued control in the second half
The second half began with another ALL OUT against the Gujarat Giants, reinforcing the Puneri Paltan’s dominance in the match. The Paltan continued to score freely, while Guman Singh and Rakesh from the Giants struggled to keep pace. Puneri Paltan’s Pankaj Mohite, Akash Shinde, Mohit Goyat, Abinesh Nadarajan, and Gaurav Khatri posed significant challenges for their opponents, extending their lead to 25 points by the half-hour mark.
Gujarat Giants’ late efforts fall short
In the final phase of the match, the Gujarat Giants found some success both defensively and offensively, even managing to secure an ALL-OUT against the Puneri Paltan. However, their efforts proved insufficient, as the Puneri Paltan comfortably clinched the victory, setting a positive tone for the week ahead.