PKL-6: Gujarat open home leg with handsome win over Bengal

Gujarat Fortunegiants got off to a flying start to their home leg as they crushed Bengal Warriors 35-23 in an inter-zonal clash of the Pro Kabaddi Season 6 at The Arena by Transtadia here on Friday.

K. Prapanjan led the charts for Gujarat, scoring 9 points and was ably supported by Ajay Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal.

Bengal Warriors were in the match for the first 10 minutes but never recovered from the all out they suffered in the first half. Maninder Singh and Jang Kun Lee couldn't live up to their high standards as the visitors suffered a second consecutive defeat.

Ajay and Maninder got a couple of raid points to get their teams going in the first five minutes. Prapanjan's two-point raid gave Gujarat a 6-5 lead in the sixth minute.

Both teams were jostling for points and refused to give an inch in what was a closely contested first half. Maninder scored another raid point in the ninth minute to hand Bengal a 9-8 lead.

In the 14th minute, Gujarat grabbed the advantage by inflicting an all out to lead 14-11. Their defence ended the first half strongly by sending Lee and Maninder to the bench. At half time, Gujarat Fortunegiants led 19-14.

A super tackle forced by Bengal Warriors in the 23rd minute reduced the deficit to four points.

Gujarat, however, were in no mood to allow Bengal make a comeback. Ajay's successful raid in the 28th minute led Gujarat to inflict another all out as they extended their lead to 27-18.

With less than five minutes to go, Gujarat enjoyed a healthy 12-point advantage, before picking up a few more raid and tackle points in the last couple of minutes to wrap up an easy 35-23 win.

--IANS

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