Gujarat Fortunegiants do the double over Bengaluru Bulls

Gujarat Fortunegiants ensured Bengaluru Bulls had a forgettable start to their home leg in vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 7 after a 32-23 win over them at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Sachin Tanwar returned to the side and top-scored for Gujarat Fortunegiants with five raid points, while Parvesh Bhainswal scored four tackle points.

Both teams made a brisk start and scored a few early points. After being all square for the first eight minutes, Gujarat Fortunegiants took the lead momentarily. Saurabh Nandal’s Super Tackle for Bengaluru Bulls though gave his side an 8-7 lead. The hosts looked to build on their lead but two technical points for Gujarat Fortunegiants made it level once again at 9-9.

Gujarat Fortunegiants then regained their lead after a successful tackle that sent 'Hi-Flyer' Pawan Sehrawat to the bench. They went on to enforce an All-Out on Bengaluru Bulls moments later and took control of the contest with a 14-10 lead. The two-time finalists continued to put the home side under the pump after the All-Out and finished the half strongly to take a 18-12 lead into the break.  

Bengaluru Bulls reduced the deficit slightly with two Super Tackles inside the opening six minutes of the half. However, Gujarat Fortunegiants maintained their focus and defended well to keep Sehrawat off court.

Undeterred, the hosts remained patience and defended with conviction to reduce the gap to three points with just over eight minutes on the clock. Even though Bengaluru Bulls looked to push in search for a way back into the game, Gujarat Fortunegiants kept executing their tackles in clinical fashion to keep the home side at an arm’s length.

The final few minutes of the game saw Gujarat Fortunegiants finally create some breathing space courtesy of a two-point raid by Sachin. The visitors demonstrated terrific game management and enforced another All-Out on Bengaluru Bulls in the buzzer raid to register a nine-point win over the defending champions.

Top Performers:

Bengaluru Bulls –

Best Raider – Rohit Kumar (3 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Saurabh Nandal (8 Tackle Points)

Gujarat Fortunegiants –

Best Raider – Sachin Tanwar (5 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Parvesh Bhainswal (4 Tackle Points)