Titans at last end their eight-match winless streak

Telugu Titans put up a resplendent show against U Mumba to end their eight-match winless streak with a 37-32 victory at Lucknow’s Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium on Saturday. Rahul Chaudhari was again the star of the match with 13 points, supported ably by young defender Sombir, who ended the match with 8 tackle points.

Captain Chaudhari started the proceedings successfully for the Titans. Mumbai’s Shabeer Bappu before long was sent in for the first do-or-die raid of the match and he did his job. A series of reviews and do-or-die raids followed, with both captains Anup Kumar and Chaudhari leading from the front. Though the Titans were missing the experienced Rakesh Kumar due to injury, the team combined beautifully to hand U Mumba their first All-Out of the match in the 10th minute.

Chaudhari was back in his element in this match as he pulled two super raids in the 6th and 16th minutes to ensure the Titans finished the half with their nose in front. The last action of the half saw Bappu being the victim of a super tackle as the resurgent Titans ended the half 19-15 in their favour.

Nitin Madane was introduced by the U Mumba coach at the expense of Kashiling Adake at the start of the second half. The Season 2 champions started the half with intent, taking up two quick points and sending the Titans on the verge of an All-Out. However, Titans young defender Sombir had other plans. He initiated two super tackles in a matter of three minutes to take the Titans away from the jaws of an All-Out, and in the process completed his High 5. Nevertheless, the Titans did succumb to their first All-Out of the match in the 31st minute as Bappu took out the remaining two defenders to gift his team four massive points.

By the 33rd minute, the Mumbai outfit had managed to level the score at 27-27. But Chaudhari was not ready to face another defeat. He ensured his team did not slack at this stage and soon picked up his third Super 10 of the season. With another solid performance in the dying minutes, the Titans handed U Mumba their second All-Out of the evening to win 37-32. Mumbai may have lost the match but they will take some joy from Adake completing 100 bonus points in his career. He is the only player to do so in the league’s history.

Check out our snapshots from this match here.