Abhishek, Ajith and an excellent defensive display guides U Mumba to comprehensive win over Bengaluru Bulls

A stellar performance from raiding duo Abhishek Singh and V Ajith Kumar and 17 tackle points from the defence helped U Mumba beat the Bengaluru Bulls 45-34. Bengaluru skipper Pawan Sehrawat had another great outing, as he finished the game with 14 raid points and became the first player to breach the 200-raid point mark in vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8. U Mumba now sit only five points behind the Bulls, who are currently at the top of the points table.

U Mumba were off to a fast start, as Abhishek, Ajith, and the defence combined to help their side build a 5-1 lead. The raiders continued to pile the points on the scoreboard, as the Bulls were soon reduced the just a solitary player on the mat. U Mumba’s defence sat deep and allowed Bharat to pick up the bonus before pouncing on the raider to inflict the game’s first All Out and take a 9-3 lead.

With his team trailing by six, Sehrawat came to the fore and picked up a Super Raid before adding another touch to his tally in the subsequent raid to cut U Mumba’s lead to just two points. The Hi-Flyer and the Bulls’ defence combined to level the scores and reduce U Mumba to just Fazel Atrachali and Rahul Sethpal on the mat, but the duo combined for two Super Tackles in quick succession to push their team’s lead back up to four.

Atrachali and Sethpal combined for a third Super Tackle, but the Left Corner had stepped out of bounds before initiating the tackle, rendering him out and leaving U Mumba with just a solitary player on the mat. The Bulls’ defence made no mistake in tackling the raider to inflict an All Out on U Mumba and tie the game at 18-18.

U Mumba finished the half stronger, outscoring the Bulls 4-2, to go into the break with a 22-20 lead.

Atrachali opened the second half with a sensational tackle on Sehrawat, which sent the Bulls skipper to the bench. Abhishek then completed his Super 10 with a two-point raid that left Bengaluru with a solitary player on the mat. U Mumba’s defence completed the formalities with a brilliant team tackle which inflicted an All Out on the Bulls.

The defences on both sides tightened the screws over the next five minutes. The two teams combined to score only nine points, with the defences responsible for six. Despite their best efforts, the Bulls couldn’t make a dent in U Mumba’s lead, who continued to hold a seven-point advantage.

Abhishek and defence then combined to outscore the Bulls 3-1, to leave them with a solitary man on the mat. The Bengaluru defender showed no interest in attempting a solo tackle, surrendering a touch point, which pushed U Mumba’s lead up to 12.

Sehrawat tried to help his side bring the deficit to seven or under and rescue a point from the game. But a two-point raid from Ajith and Harendra Kumar’s vicious tackle in the game’s final raid ensured an 11-point victory for U Mumba.

Top Performers

U Mumba

Best Raider – Abhishek Singh (11 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Rahul Sethpal (7 Tackle Points)

Bengaluru Bulls

Best Raider – Pawan Sehrawat (14 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Saurabh Nandal (4 Tackle Points)