Maninder Singh scored 12 raid points, while Surjeet Singh scored six tackle points to lead Bengal Warriors to a 34-30 victory over Tamil Thalaivas in Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 5, here on Friday.

Meanwhile, Ajay Thakur scored 14 points for Tamil Thalaivas but his effort went in vain. Although Thalaivas scored more raid points than Bengal Warriors, their defence couldn’t support the raiders at crucial moments of the match.

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Bengal Warriors are top of the table in Zone B with 74 points from 21 matches. Tamil Thalaivas are bottom of the table with 41 points from 21 matches.

It was an evenly contested first half as both teams went toe-to-toe. Maninder Singh scored first two raid points for Bengal Warriors as they tied the match at 2-2 after two minutes. Prapanjan made a successful raid in the fifth minute as Tamil Thalaivas led 4-3. Both teams were evenly matched and were tied at 6-6 after 10 minutes.

Maninder Singh scored with a two-point raid in the 11th minute as Bengal Warriors led 8-6. He repeated the act in the 14th minute to give Bengal 11-9 lead. Bengal Warriors inflicted an all out in the 17th minute to lead 16-12. Tamil Thalaivas trailed 14-18 at the end of the first half. Maninder Singh scored nine points in the first half whereas Ajay Thakur scored six points for Tamil Thalaivas.

Prapanjan scored with a two-point raid in the 22nd minute as Thalaivas trailed 16-19. Deepak Narwal scored a raid point in the 27th minute as Bengal Warriors led 22-19. Maninder continued to pile on raid points as Bengal Warriors led 26-19 after 32 minutes.

Bengal Warriors kept their lead intact by scoring points at regular interval. After 35 minutes, they led 27-22 and looked in complete control. In the 38th minute, Bengal Warriors inflicted another all out to lead 34-24 as Bhupinder Singh made a successful raid. The game was put beyond Thalaivas reach with the all out by Bengal Warriors. Ajay Thakur scored a couple of raid points in the last few minutes. Bengal Warriors scored six points in the last two minutes but fell short in the end and lost 30-34.

Gujarat Fortunegiants thrash Puneri Paltan 44-20

Meanwhile, in the earlier match played on Friday, Gujarat Fortunegiants produced a superb all-round performance to beat Puneri Paltan 44-20. Sukesh Hegde scored 15 raid points whereas Sunil Kumar chipped in with 7 tackle points. For Puneri Paltan, it was a disappointing start to their home leg as they were second best to Gujarat in all aspects of the game.

Gujarat Fortunegiants remain top of the table in Zone A with 82 points from 21 matches. Puneri Paltan are third with 63 points from 17 matches. Both teams have secured their place in the super playoffs.

Gujarat Fortunegiants led 2-0 after two minutes as they sent Pune danger man Deepak Hooda on the bench. Monu scored a raid point in the fourth minute as Puneri Paltan trailed 2-3. Puneri Paltan forced a super tackle in the ninth minute to trail 5-6. Gujarat stepped up their game in the next couple of minutes. Sukesh Hegde got raid points in with successful raids as Gujarat Fortunegiants inflicted an all out in the 12th minute to lead 12-5.

In the last nine minutes of the first half, Puneri Paltan scored just two points compared to Gujarat’s 12. Gujarat Fortunegiants went into the break leading 17-7. Puneri Paltan’s bigwigs Deepak Hooda and Sandeep Narwal failed to get on the scoresheet in the first half.

Gujarat Fortunegiants began the second half in a rampant manner as they inflicted an all out in the 22nd minute to lead 24-7. Rajesh Mondal scored a raid point in the 24th minute as Pune scored their first point of the second half. Sunil Kumar was having a fine game for Gujarat in the defence and he achieved a high five in the second half.

With Deepak Hooda and Sandeep Narwal struggling to get points, Puneri Paltan had a tough time coping with Gujarat Fortunegiants. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, they could score just three points. Gujarat Fortunegiants led 29-10 after 30 minutes.

Sukesh Hegde scored with a two-point raid in the 33rd minute as Gujarat extended their lead to 20 points. Gujarat Fortunegiants inflicted the third all out of the match to lead 37-13 after 34 minutes. Suresh Kumar scored with a two-point raid in the 35th minute as Puneri Paltan trailed 16-38. All Pune could do was reduce the margin of the defeat in the last five minutes.

Puneri Paltan were completely outclassed by Gujarat as they succumbed to a 44-20loss.