Hyderabad, October 23: Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 continues to deliver thrilling encounters, and the match between Tamil Thalaivas and Puneri Paltan was no exception. Tamil Thalaivas secured a hard-fought victory over defending champions Puneri Paltan, winning 35-30 at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium on Wednesday night. This marked Thalaivas’ second consecutive win in the tournament, as they put a stop to Puneri Paltan’s impressive two-match winning streak.
A High-Octane Match from Start to Finish
From the opening whistle, Tamil Thalaivas displayed dominance. Star rider Narender Kandola led the charge with 9 points, while Sachin closely followed with 8 points. On the defensive front, Nitesh Kumar had a standout performance, earning a high five with 5 crucial tackle points. For Puneri Paltan, Mohit Goyat put on a remarkable solo performance, scoring 13 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win for his team.
First Half Action: Thalaivas Take Charge
The match began with Tamil Thalaivas swiftly gaining a 4-0 lead, thanks to Narender’s back-to-back touch points and solid defensive tackles on Puneri’s key players Pankaj and Aslam. However, Puneri Paltan bounced back with a super tackle on Sachin, taking a 6-5 lead. Mohit Goyat then made a significant impact with two consecutive double-point raids, and Puneri briefly led at 11-10.
Despite Puneri’s resurgence, Thalaivas quickly regained control. They tackled Puneri’s Aslam, and by the 8th minute, the Paltan team was bowled out, giving Thalaivas a 14-11 advantage. With a strong defense and well-executed raids, Tamil Thalaivas maintained their lead and finished the first half at 19-15.
Second Half: Thalaivas Hold Strong
As the second half commenced, Tamil Thalaivas continued to build on their momentum. Sachin earned a touch point early on, and Nitesh Kumar tackled Puneri’s Akash. Thalaivas defenders were in full form, stopping Puneri’s key raider Aslam and extending their lead to 22-15.
Puneri Paltan tried to fight back with super tackles on Thalaivas’ Narender and Sachin, closing the gap to 24-21. However, Tamil Thalaivas were not ready to let their lead slip. Narender’s raids intensified, and the defense stood tall, bowling out Puneri Paltan for the second time in the match. This put Tamil Thalaivas comfortably ahead at 30-22.
Late Push by Puneri Falls Short
Puneri Paltan’s defenders tried to turn the tide with some impressive super tackles in the final minutes, narrowing the margin. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the determined Tamil Thalaivas, who held on to their lead and finished the match with a 35-30 victory.
Key Performers
- Tamil Thalaivas: Narender Kandola (9 points), Sachin (8 points), Nitesh Kumar (5 points, high five)
- Puneri Paltan: Mohit Goyat (13 points)
With this victory, Tamil Thalaivas continue their strong run in PKL Season 11, while Puneri Paltan will look to regroup after their first loss of the season.
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