Patna Pirates’ clinical organisation in defence, boosted by lively efforts from its wily raiders, proved too much for Bengal Warriors in Pro Kabaddi Zone B action at the NSCI stadium here on Saturday.
Pardeep Narwal (11 raid points) led from the front and showed top-scorer Deepak Narwal (13) the way in an easier-than-expected 50-30 victory.
Maninder Singh (six points) went all-out to stem the flow as the match slipped away from Warriors, for whom Amit Nagar (seven) top-scored. Catchers in the rival camp, Jaideep, Vikas Kale and Ravinder Kumar, kept a stranglehold on him and his mates. Jaideep’s timing of the ankle hold was as valuable as captain Pardeep’s mastery up front in easing the road to victory.
The presence of two number 9s in either side, Pardeep (Pirates) and Maninder (Warriors), lent a cutting edge to the contest. Both raiders were missing in the previous face-off in season six, won by Pirates.
The former was into his 10th game, while the day two opener at NSCI was the latter’s eighth tie. Both earned respect from the catchers initially before the tacklers swung into action.
Pardeep raided the rival territory 10 times in the first half, Maninder went in 11 times and earned five points each. Pirates raider Deepak emerged the most successful at the break, six points from six raids, including three raid and three bonus points.
Warriors suffered an all-out as the lead swing from 6-5 up to an eight-point deficit (14-22) as the players returned for the second half.
Pirates occupy the second spot in Zone B, after five wins in 11 appearances. Warriors is a point below, 27 from only nine games, but in fourth position.
The result: Zone B: Patna Pirates 50 (Deepak Narwal 13) bt Bengal Warriors 30 (Amit Nagar 7). Points: Pirates 5, Warriors 0.
