The highest paid player Rakesh Kumar got down to business for the first time in the STAR Sports ProKabaddi and made quite an impact for Patna Pirates in the presence of a near packed stadium at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) here on Tuesday.
But the home team that has largely depended on Anup Kumar to garner offensive points in the three previous matches found another star performer Shabeer Bapu Sharfudheen pitch in with nine points to enable his team score the third win in four home-league matches and lead the table with 18 points. U Mumba won 36-33. Initially the match showed signs of turning into a keen tussle with the scores level at 5 points. The sight of a Pirates raider lifted, pinned down with five U Mumba players falling in a heap over him thrilled the home supporters.
The teams adjourned for a short interval with the score tied at 19. There was not much action in the second half and the Pirates, which was all out twice, eventually lost the match.
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Rakesh Kumar was declared the best raider, Surender Nada, the best defender and Anup Kumar won the award for the best moment.
The result: U Mumba 36 (Anup Kumar 10, Shabeer Bapy Sharfudheen 9) bt Patna Pirates 33 (Rakesh Kumar 15, Ravi Dalal 6).