By ensuring a big and important win against Telugu Titans, Patna Pirates has become the first team to make it to the semi-finals of the VIVO Pro Kabaddi League Season 8. Not just this but the team has also won for the sixth consecutive time for the first time in the season. Patna Pirates have time and now proved their worth throughout season 8 by succeeding in various prominent matches.
The journey of Patna Pirates has surely been notable as the team began the season with a win against Haryana Steelers. However, the team lost their second match against UP Yoddha. Moving ahead, the Pirates ensured to give their best and secure a hat-trick by winning three successive matches, followed by their season’s only draw match against Tamil Thalaivas. The Pirates then won two consecutive matches but lost in the next match against Pink Panthers on 14th January. Although the team won their next match on 16th January, the bad time began for the team as they lost against Dabang Delhi by 3 points on 18th January and then went to a 9-day long break due to the pandemic outbreak in the camp. Due to the break, PKL had to reschedule two matches of the Pirates that were scheduled to take place on the 20th and 22nd January against Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan respectively. The comeback of the team in the game again after a 9-day break proved the capability of the team. Patna Pirates scored a massive 28 point win against Tamil Thalaivas on 28th January. The team lost their next match which was against Pink Panthers but then won the next six straight matches.
Patna Pirates played the season’s 116th match on 14th February against Telugu Titans and won by 8 points.
Let’s Get a Closer Look at the Match Highlights
The team played exponentially like always. However, a super 10 by Sachin and a high 5 by Mohammadreza Chiyaneh made the Pirates win 38-30. The team began with a strong start and took a three-point lead, courtesy of which went to the two raid points from Sachin and single points from Guman Singh and the defense. Moving ahead in the game, Pirates continued with a stellar performance as they knocked an All Out for the Titans, taking a massive 10-3 lead. However, Telugu Titans realized the importance of giving their best as they moved ahead to collect more and more points, fighting head to head with the Pirates. Titan’s Rajnish delivered a super raid and reduced their point deficit to only two, leaving Patna Pirates with only two players on the mat. Further, Adarsh managed to tag both the players through a common raid. helping the Titans to inflict an All Out on the Pirates and taking a 20-19 lead. However, Patna Pirates ended the half with a 2-0 run, regaining their lead with a point.
The second half began with the Pirates extending their lead before the Telugu Titans went on for a 3-0 run, reclaiming their lead in the game. The game proceeded with a brilliant team tackle by the Pirates, followed by an exceptional pursuit from Shubham Shinde to regain their authority over the game. The team’s defense took a tackle point, leaving the Titans with only two men on the mat. Sachin further took care of both the players in one raid, helping the Pirates to inflict another All Out, taking a seven-point lead in the game. Chiyaneh’s excellent ankle hold on Rajnish, pursued by proper assistance against Ankit Beniwal, made the Pirates maximize their lead to eight points. Rest is history as the player completed his high 5, assuring the Pirates sixth consecutive win and entry into the semi-finals of the PKL season 8.