KOLKATA: Bengal Warriors have been slow starters, but have now won two matches on a trot to move up the ladder. They prevailed over Puneri Paltans in a topsy-turvy battle 38-35, to win their second match on the trot in the Pro Kabaddi league here Friday.
Bengal raced to a 10-0 lead in the first half with Nitin and Jang making successive successful raids. But Pune came back midway through the first half with some good show from skipper Wazir Singh and, Manoj Kumar. Vikas Tomar and Jitesh Joshi showed their defensive skills as Pune pulled back 4 points in a row and finished the first half on 14-20.
Pune seized the initiative in the second half with Mahipal Niwale taking out four Bengal players in an audacious raid. Thereafter Pune effected a Lona to Amake the scoreline 25-27.
Pune took the lead for the first time (30-28) in the match with just 8 minutes left on the clock. But Bengal's Iranian raider Farhad Kamal Gharibi effected a three point raid to put Bengal a point ahead of Pune 32-31. The last few minutes saw a seesaw battle with Pune taking lead again with just three minutes left.
However, a superb three men defence trap led by Nilesh Shinde and a silly mistake from Jitesh Joshi of Pune meant Bengal took their points to 36 against Pune's 34. And a tactical defence and some cunning raid ensured full points for the locals.
In the day's first match, a closely contested battle saw Patna Pirates beat Telugu Titans 38-35 with Ravi Dalal leading from the front. He was adjudged the best raider of the match. Waseem Sajjad was the best defender of the match.