Patna Pirates face Gujarat Fortunegiants in an all-important clash

Patna Pirates take on Gujarat Fortunegiants in an Inter-Zone Wildcard Match on Wednesday at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indoor Stadium in Kolkata. The defending champions need a win or a tie to seal the final Playoffs spot from Zone B. While Gujarat Fortunegiants are assured of the top spot in Zone A, Patna Pirates will want a favourable result in their final league game to be guaranteed of qualification without having to wait for the result of U.P. Yoddha’s next match.

The two teams met earlier this season in Delhi where Gujarat Fortunegiants rode on a career-best performance by Parvesh Bhainswal to come out on top. Bhainswal managed eight tackle points on the night and was well supported by Sachin, who returned nine raid points. Right Corner Jawahar Dagar managed a High 5 for Patna Pirates.

Match 129 (Inter-Zone Wildcard Match): Gujarat Fortunegiants vs Patna Pirates

Head-to-head: Gujarat Fortunegiants 3-1 Patna Pirates

Form Guide:

Gujarat Fortunegiants	RESULT(W-T-L)	POINTS SCORED	POINTS CONCEDED
Vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers	WON	33	31
Vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers	WON	34	29
Vs. Haryana Steelers	WON	47	37
Vs. Telugu Titans	WON	29	27
Vs. Patna Pirates	WON	45	27
TOTAL	5-0-0	188	151

Stats from the last five matches –

Average Points Scored – 37.6

Average Points Conceded – 30.2

Best Raider – Sachin

Best Defender – Parvesh Bhainswal

Patna Pirates	RESULT(W-T-L)	POINTS SCORED	POINTS CONCEDED
Vs. Bengal Warriors	LOST	23	39
Vs. Bengaluru Bulls	TIED	40	40
Vs. U.P. Yoddha	LOST	31	47
Vs. Telugu Titans	LOST	36	41
Vs. Puneri Paltan	WON	53	36
TOTAL	1-1-3	183	203

Stats from the last five matches –

Average Points Scored – 36.6

Average Points Conceded – 40.6

Best Raider – Pardeep Narwal

Best Defender – Jaideep

The big battle

Pardeep Narwal vs Parvesh Bhainswal

Pardeep Narwal is Season 6’s current leading raider with 223 raid points from 20 games. Narwal has scored his points at an average of 11.15 raid points per game, the highest in the league as well. Narwal has managed to score 65 raid points in his last five outings including a season-best 27 raid points against Puneri Paltan. He has single-handedly carried Patna Pirates’ offence this season, with their next best raider having scored 136 raid points less than Narwal.

Parvesh Bhainswal, meanwhile, has enjoyed a breakthrough season, having scored 79 tackle points in 21 games to sit joint-top in the Best Defenders’ list for the season. Bhainswal also has the best average amongst defender as he scores his points at an average of 3.76 tackle points per game. Bhainswal has garnered five High 5s this season, four of which have resulted in victory for Gujarat Fortunegiants. Together with fellow-Cover Sunil Kumar, the duo has scored 143 tackle points this season; greater than any pairing.

Key Khiladi –

Sachin – Gujarat Fortunegiants

Sachin has had a successful campaign in Season 6, having managed 161 raid points in 20 outings so far this season. Ranking eighth amongst the season’s best raiders, Sachin has shown maturity beyond his years in leading his team’s offence. Sachin has also contributed in defence, having returned 13 tackle points, including two Super Tackles.

Jaideep – Patna Pirates

Jaideep has led Patna Pirates’ defence for the second season in a row, having amassed 58 tackle points from 21 games, to be the league’s ninth-best defender in terms of tackle points scored. One of only three Patna Pirates players to score a High 5 this season, three of Jaideep’s four High 5s have resulted in victory for the side. Jaideep will need to put in a strong performance if Patna Pirates are to match a defensively strong Gujarat Fortunegiants.