Rai and Jadhav’s Super 10s hand U.P. Yoddha a close win

Shrikant Jadhav and stand-in captain Prashanth Kumar Rai inspired U.P. Yoddha to a 38-36 win over Dabang Delhi K.C.  in a pulsating Inter-Zone Challenge Week encounter at the Patliputra Indoor Stadium in Patna on Sunday. The game saw four Super 10s being scored and a second-half comeback by Dabang Delhi K.C. that almost took the game away from U.P. Yoddha.

The first half showcased the raiding abilities of both teams as they managed only 5 tackle points in the entire half.

After a number of raids points being exchanged, the first Do-or-Die raid came in the 8^th minute for Dabang Delhi K.C. and young Naveen Kumar delivered by getting a touch on Narender to give his team the lead. But Shrikant Jadhav managed to get back the lead for U.P. Yoddha and reduce Dabang Delhi K.C. to 2 men on the mat soon after. Rai then inflicted the first All-Out of the game on Dabang Delhi K.C. with touches on Ravinder Pahal and Chandran Ranjit to put U.P. Yoddha 14-12 up in the 13^th minute.

Check out the photos from the match here.

Jadhav’s Super Raid in the 18^th minute helped increase U.P. Yoddha’s lead to 7 points. He then got a touch on Viraj Vishnu Landge to reduce Dabang Delhi K.C. to a solitary player on the mat. From there, U.P. Yoddha managed to inflict a second All-Out on Dabang Delhi K.C. in the closing minutes of the half as they led by 9 points. Naveen got the final point of the half as it ended 25-17 in favour of U.P. Yoddha.

The second half witnessed a brilliant defensive performance from both sides and the first two points scored in the half were tackle points. The 5^th minute then witnessed the first Super Tackle of the game courtesy a Sachin Kumar Ankle Hold on Ranjit.

Almost immediately after, the second Super Tackle of the game for U.P. Yoddha came through Nitesh Kumar.

Dabang Delhi K.C. then started their comeback as Ranjit got rid off Amit and Nitesh Kumar before a Vishal Mane tackle on Rai helped them inflict an All-Out in the 9^th minute with the deficit reduced to just 4 points. Naveen got his second successive Super 10 with a bonus while Yogesh Hooda got his third tackle point of the night to build some momentum for their team.

Dabang Delhi K.C. gained the lead in the 12^th minute before Rai got rid of Mane to keep the game close and complete his Super 10 in the very next minute.

Visit the matchcentre to relive the contest here.

Ranjit completed his Super 10 in the 17^th minute and Jadhav got to his Super 10 off the very next raid. This was the first time 4 Super 10s were witnessed this season.

A pressure raid by Rai in the last minute saw him get rid of Dabang Delhi K.C.’s most experienced defenders in Pahal and Joginder Narwal to give U.P. Yoddha the lead at 37-36 and ensure a win. This victory puts U.P. Yoddha at the top of Zone B.

Top Performers

U.P. Yoddha

Best Raider: Shrikant Jadhav (12 points)

Best Defender: Nitesh Kumar (4 points)

Dabang Delhi K.C.

Best Raider: Naveen Kumar (12 points)

Best Defender: Yogesh Hooda (3 points)