With the help of Nilesh Salunke and Sandeep Dhull’s great performance in attack and defense, Telugu comfortably defeated Dabang Delhi KC by five points in Match 27 of fourth edition of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna on Sunday. In the points tally, Titans are at sixth spot with scoring 3 wins in seven games and bagging 19 points whereas Dabang Delhi KC, with 2 wins in seven games and pocketing 15 points, are at 7th spot.

Failure of Meraj Sheykh as he was sitting at the bench for more than 20 minutes, proved very harmful for Delhi as they were unable to cut the difference and to take the lead against Titans as Salunke and Chaudhary were scoring at their peaks. Although Kashling Adake tried to cut the deficit by scoring a point in last stages of the game, it was too late for Dabang Delhi KC as Titans registered win by 28-23.

Delhi tried to cut the difference as their defender Shingade performed well when they were trailing at 11-17 initially in the second half. Titans’ first all out came at 31st minute as they were leading at 23-15. Telugu Titans went on to score five consecutive raid points and were leading at 25-17. When only five minutes were remaining in the game, Shingade and Dhull both scored ‘high fives’ for their teams.

Earlier, Titans’ defense played extremely well and scored a point at the start following Rahul Chaudhary’s perfect opening by opening an account through his raid. As Titans were leading 4-3, Delhi could not even score a raid point which was opened by Selvamani in the ninth minute. Chaudhary again scored to gain the four-point lead 7-3 and Titans managed to maintain their lead 9-5 till the last five minutes of the first half. The team that managed to beat table toppers Patna Pirates, Delhi was looking highly out of form. They was trailing at 7-13 and at the break, maintaining the firm lead Telugu Titans were leading by 7 points at 14-7.

By Prajakt K.