Puneri Paltan lose to UP Yoddha 39-43 in raid thriller

Greater Noida, October 6, 2019: Puneri Paltan concluded their season with a loss against UP Yoddha 39-43 at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida on Sunday. Puneri Paltan put in a spirited performance in their last outing of the Vivo PKL season 7. The first half began with the home team inflicting an All-Out in the fifth minute of the match. The trend continued as Rishank Devadiga, Monu Goyat and Surender Singh picked up easy raid points against a Pune defense that lacked cohesion. In the defense captain Nitesh Kumar picked up four points for UP in a first half that saw the home side inflict another All-Out with three minutes remaining for the break. The first half ended 29-15 with UP on top. Puneri Paltan started the second half with a much better attitude and got their rewards immediately when Manjeet’s two touches fetched them an All-Out in the third minute. Puneri Paltan’s efforts to mount a comeback were successful with the margins reduced to 6 points, Pune tightened their defense, to match UP Yoddha move for move. UP’s Nitesh Kumar secured his High 5 in the fifth minute of the half but both teams failed to open up a healthy lead. Surjeet Singh and Amit Kumar picked up High 5s for a massively improved Pune defense as they levelled the points with under 3 minutes left in the match. Rishank Devadiga managed a two-point raid in the penultimate minute of the match and the home side followed it up with a successful tackle on Nitin Tomar to open a three-point lead. Amit Kumar’s successful two-point raid in the last minute gave UP a lead and they went on to seal the match from there. Today’s Match Awards: • VIVO PERFECT RAIDER OF THE MATCH o Pardeep Narwal (JERSEY NO.09) – Patna Pirates o Manjeet (JERSEY NO. 03) – Puneri Paltan • TATA MOTORS ACE DEFENDER OF THE MATCH o Neeraj (JERSEY NO. 05) – Patna Pirates o Nitesh Kumar (JERSEY NO. 02) – U.P. Yoddha • DREAM11 GAME CHANGER OF THE MATCH o Pardeep Narwal (JERSEY NO. 09) – Patna Pirates o Rishank Devadiga (JERSEY NO. 07) – U.P. Yoddha • THE UP YODDHA MOMENT OF THE MATCH o Pardeep Narwal (JERSEY NO. 09) – Patna Pirates o Rishank Devadiga (JERSEY NO. 07) – U.P. Yoddha • GREEN SLEEVE HOLDER – TOP RAIDER – PARDEEP NARWAL (302 POINTS)