Hosts Pink Panthers defeated Bengaluru Bulls 36-31 in a keenly-contested match of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League to jump to the top of the leaderboard, here today.
There was plenty of stake attached with the game at the Sawai Man Singh Indoor Stadium here as the Bengaluru outfit were looking for a win aftera draw in their last match, while came into the contest on the back of a drubbing.
But it was the Panthers which came out victorious in front of a vociferous home crowd.
After going tooth and nail in the first half, Jaipur clearly dominated the second, getting the better of the Bulls taking the final score to 36-31 in their favour.
With this win Jaipur Pink Panthers also claimed the top-spot in the league table.
The match began with a bitter news for Bengaluru, who had to play without their best raider Ajay Thakur. However, Bengaluru Bulls did not let that stop their charge as Jaipur was left with two men by the second minute.
But Jasvir Singh had his own plans as he mauled two Bengaluru defenders soon after. Like a charging Bull, Rajesh Mondal, with a brilliant raid took down Jasvir Singh, leaving Jaipur in a spot of bother yet again.
By the eighth minute, Jaipur's problem escalated as they conceded their firs lona points. Rajesh Mondal in an unstoppable mood ousted Rohit Rana, his fourth victim up till the 12th minute. But Panthers' Rajesh Narwal decided to stop the charging Bulls by bringing down three of their players including Captain Manjit Chillar.
Following it up in the very next minute Jasvir Singh did his bit of damage by ousting two Bengaluru players who led 20-17 at the half time.
In in the second half rejuvenated by the crowd's thunderous cheers, Jaipur earned their first lona points as they overthrew the lone-standing Bull's player Gurpreet Singh.
By the 26th minute both the teams were tied 24 apeice. Earning his seventh raid point Rajesh Narwal got rid of the Bengaluru skipper, and another Pink Panther Maninder followed it up by getting two points off his raid.
As Bulls' Pramod Singh left the field of play, Bengaluru was yet again a one man army and consequently they conceded their second set of lona points. With the pressure mounting on them, Bengaluru captain Manjit Chillar got into an argument with the referee and was suspended from the match.
