In an exhilarating Southern Derby of the 11th season of the Pro Kabaddi League, the Bengaluru Bulls triumphed over the Tamil Thalaivas with a score of 36-32 at the GMCB Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday. This victory marks the Bulls’ second win in seven matches, while the Thalaivas have now faced defeat for the second time in six outings.
Defensive dominance by bulls
The defence played a key role in the Bulls’ success, with the team scoring 16 points in defence, matching their tally from raids. Surender led the charge for the Bulls, notching a high-5, while Nitin contributed four points. Both Akshit and Ajinkya added six points each in raids. For the Thalaivas, Narender was the standout raider, scoring six points, while Sahil Gulia and Amirhussain Bastani each contributed four points in defence.
Early lead for the Bulls
The match kicked off with the Bulls asserting their dominance, quickly establishing a 5-2 lead within the first four minutes. The Thalaivas responded with a super tackle, earning two points through an impressive tackle that narrowed the gap to 4-5. The Thalaivas then managed to equalize the score, showcasing their defensive prowess. Despite a strong Bulls defense, they conceded a point during Vishal’s do-or-die raid.
Equal exchanges and tactical plays
Ajinkya’s bonus point during a do-or-die raid brought the score to 7-7 after ten minutes of play. In the 12th minute, the Bulls regained the lead at 8-7, capitalizing on Vishal’s self-out. However, Pankaj’s misstep on a do-or-die raid once again equalized the score. The Bulls found themselves in a super tackle situation after one of their defenders went out of bounds on Sachin’s raid.
Saurav Nandal and Nitin executed a super tackle on Narender, earning two crucial points and leveling the score at 10-10. Despite this, the Thalaivas’ defense managed to reclaim the lead. Akshit then targeted Anuj, bringing the score to 11-11. Surender’s successful hunt of Sachin on a do-or-die raid gave the Bulls a two-point advantage, maintaining a narrow lead until halftime.
Thrilling second half
After the break, Saurav’s tackle on Vishal yielded two points for the Bulls, extending their lead to three. The Thalaivas were forced to play on do-or-die to avoid being super tackled. Pankaj’s aggressive move resulted in a dash, but Sachin responded with a catch on his do-or-die raid, leading to the Bulls’ first all-out and allowing the Thalaivas to take an 18-17 lead.
With the Bulls equalizing shortly after, the last five minutes saw both teams scoring six points each. The Bulls’ defense effectively stifled Sachin and Narender, and with ten minutes left, the Thalaivas held a slim one-point lead until the Bulls equalized again.
Late game drama
The Thalaivas managed to gain a two-point lead through a super tackle on Ajinkya. However, the Bulls’ defense struck back, hunting down Sachin and pushing the Thalaivas toward an all-out, which they executed successfully to reclaim a 29-27 lead. Surender further bolstered the Bulls’ advantage with a high-5, contributing three additional points.
In a crucial moment, Sachin eliminated Nitin, but Akshit quickly restored a three-point gap for the Bulls. Despite conceding an easy point shortly after, the Bulls maintained their composure. The Thalaivas managed to catch Akshit, but he had already secured a bonus point. The gap narrowed to two points before Surender extended it back to three. Finally, Ajinkya secured one last point, ensuring a thrilling victory for the Bengaluru Bulls.
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