Patna continue winning home run at the expense of Lucknow

Patna Pirates overcome U.P. Yoddha 45-42 at the Harivansh Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium in Ranchi on Saturday. Pardeep Narwal top-scored for the Pirates with 15 points, while Nitin Tomar was Lucknow’s best performer with 14 points.

The visitors made a good start to the match with Patna skipper Pardeep finding it difficult going early doors. Monu Goyat and Vijay assumed responsibility in attack for the Pirates in the absence of their skipper to make it all square at 4-4 in the sixth minute.

U.P.’s Rishank Devadiga pulled off the first super raid of the encounter three minutes later but Dubki King Pardeep didn’t allow Lucknow to build a massive lead by responding immediately with a two-point raid.

The last 10 minutes of the half saw the hosts grow in confidence with Pardeep starting to come into his own. A two-point raid by the Patna captain in the 13^th minute, followed by two more successful raids by him in quick succession helped enforce the first All-Out of the game on Lucknow with about four minutes left in the half.

The Yoddha though ended the half on the front foot thanks to some resolute defensive work and a two-point raid by their skipper Tomar. The last bit of action in the half witnessed Goyat succumb to a do-or-die raid, while Tomar raided successfully in the same situation for his team to make it 20-20 at the break.

Lucknow got the second period underway by inflicting an All-Out on Patna in the third minute of the half to take a 26-25 lead. The Pirates eradicated Lucknow’s lead four minutes later after a successful two-point do-or-die raid by Goyat.

The defending champions moved into the driving seat soon after with Pardeep looking at his lethal best as he brought up his sixth successive Super 10 – a VIVO Pro Kabaddi record. The home side went on to effect a second All-Out on Lucknow in the 30^th minute to take a 35-29 lead into the final 10 minutes of the contest.

The Yoddha, however, weren’t there to just make up the numbers and fought back valiantly to inflict their second All-Out on Patna and take a 38-36 lead into the last four minutes. It looked like Lucknow would see out the match and win the encounter but a super raid by Pardeep in the penultimate minute tied the score at 40-40.

Patna moved back into the lead moments later after an unsuccessful do-or-die raid by Lucknow, which they followed up with by another All-Out on the Yoddha to wrap up the win with a few seconds left on the clock.

Check out our snapshots from this match here.