Puneri Paltan managed to edge out a competitive game against the Jaipur Pink Panthers, securing a hard-fought 41-36 victory at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Aditya Shinde was in top form, registering a Super 10 to lead the charge for Puneri Paltan. His teammates Pankaj Mohite and Mohit Goyat also contributed significantly, scoring 8 and 7 points respectively, ensuring the team got the crucial win.
For the Jaipur Pink Panthers, Ali Samadi stood out with a valiant performance, scoring 22 points and delivering the best performance by an overseas player in the PKL this season.
The match started fiercely, with both teams quickly trying to take the lead. Pankaj Mohite opened the scoring for the Season 10 champions, while Sahil responded equally swiftly for the Pink Panthers. Early exchanges saw Aditya Shinde and Ali Samadi trading blows, with neither team able to establish a clear advantage.
Puneri Paltan soon gained momentum, led by their raiders. Vishal Bhardwaj recorded the first tackle of the game, giving his team a two-point lead before the Paltan began to assert their dominance. Aditya Shinde helped register the first ALL OUT of the match, pushing the score to 12-6. Pankaj Mohite’s two-point raid further extended their lead to eight points by the end of the first quarter.
Aryan Kumar recorded the first tackle for the Pink Panthers and kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Ali Samadi. However, it was Puneri Paltan who maintained control, with their defense, spearheaded by Vishal Bhardwaj, proving highly effective.
Mohite came through with a successful Do-Or-Die Raid followed by a multi-point raid, extending the team’s advantage to eleven points. Meanwhile, Mohit Goyat began contributing as well, and Bhardwaj’s third tackle of the night helped inflict a second ALL OUT on the Pink Panthers. The first half ended with Puneri Paltan firmly in the driver’s seat at 25-12.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers roared back in the second half thanks to some brilliance from their Iranian duo. Ali Samadi brought much-needed momentum with a Super Raid followed by a two-point raid, completing his Super 10 in the process. His compatriot Reza Mirbagheri then helped the Pink Panthers register their first ALL OUT, narrowing Puneri Paltan’s lead to just three points.
Puneri Paltan showed great resilience, with Aditya Shinde also achieving his Super 10. This helped the Paltan regain a five-point lead with under ten minutes to play.
Ali Samadi was relentless, continuously putting pressure on the Puneri defense and cutting the lead down to three points once again. The combined efforts of the Iranian raiders and a crucial tackle by Aashish Kumar helped the Pink Panthers level the score at 33-33 with less than three minutes remaining.
With the game on a knife’s edge, Puneri Paltan’s defense came to the fore, highlighting why they are regarded as one of the best in the league. Dadaso Pujari executed a crucial Super Tackle on Ali Samadi, followed by another Super Tackle from Mohit Goyat. This defensive masterclass helped Ajay Thakur’s side regain a five-point lead with under a minute left.
In the final moments, a tackle and quick raid by Ali Samadi gave the Pink Panthers a glimmer of hope, but Mohit Goyat sealed the victory with a multi-point raid in his last attempt. Puneri Paltan emerged victorious with a 41-36 win, underlining their defensive prowess and team spirit.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/pkl-12-puneri-paltan-edges-past-jaipur-pink-panthers-41-36-in-a-thrilling-encounter
