Bengaluru rally to defeat Pune for second win on trot

Bengaluru Bulls pulled out all stops to recover from a first half deficit and down Pune Palton 40-37 for their second straight win on day two of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League at the NSCI Stadium here tonight.
Riding on Ajay Thakur's superb display for the second day running, Bengaluru rallied from a 21-23 first half score to put it across their rivals in a rousing encounter.
This was Bengaluru's second straight win in the eight-team round robin, having already got the better of Delhi Dabang in more convincing fashion with a 47-28 verdict last night at the same venue.

For the winners, Manjit Chillar accumulated 6 points, four fewer than what he secured against Delhi yesterday, while for the losers Wazir Singh stole the show with 15 points, most of them coming at crucial times .
It was Wazir's timely and successful raid when Pune trailed 14-17 that helped them draw level and then take the lead in the first half of play.
Mahesh Narwal contributed six points to the losers' tally. Bengaluru were, in fact, leading by six points (16-10) after packing off the entire opposition for an all-out and two extra points when Pune fought back and drew level at 19 and then surged in front before the half way mark.

But Thakur struck back for Bengaluru soon after resumption of play to help them restore parity at 29 and then take the lead too and from that stage onwards the southern franchise never looked back.
Bengaluru led by six points (40-34) with time ticking out fast. Though Pune narrowed the lead with some successful raids and defending the leeway was too big to bridge and in the end they lost by three points.