PBL | Awadhe beat Hyderabad despite Marin's convincing win over Nehwal

01/03/2017

After beating PV Sindhu on new year, Spanish ace Carolina Marin claimed another Hyderabadi scalp in the form of Sania Nehwal in the Premier Badminton League on Monday (Jan 2). However, Nehwal’s Awadhe Warriors went on to beat Hyderabad Hunters 5-0.

The first match on Day 2 saw Wong Wing Ki put Warriors ahead by beating Sai Praneeth 11-13, 11-6, 13-11. Praneeth saved three game points to clinch the opening game but the Hong Kong-based Ki won the next. The decider proved to be an absolute cracker as Ki went up 8-5 but lost the next five points. The world No 25, however, held his nerve to win 13-11.

The much-anticipated Marin-Nehwal clash was next. The first set proved to be the set of the day with both players displaying a wide array of shots. At 5-all, Marin upped the tempo by winning four points on the trot. But Nehwal came right back to level at 9-9. At 14-all, a Marin drop wrong-footed Nehwal to hand the Spaniard the opening game. The second game turned out one-sided with Marin going up 8-0 to win the contest and level the match score 1-1.

Warriors opted for the first Trump match and chose mixed doubles against Chau Hoi Wah and Satwik Sai Raj. The first game was closely contested before the Warriors duo of Bodin Isara and Savitree Amitrapai clinched it 11-9. The second game saw the Lucknow-based Warriors go up 7-2 and then fall back 7-9 before regaining their composure to win the game and take a 3-1 lead.

Kidambi Srikanth took on Rajiv Ouseph in the fourth fixture knowing that a win would give his side an unassailable lead. The Indian made his intent clear early on, taking a 6-2 lead before the players swapped sides.

However, Ouseph took the next five points in a row to put the pressure back on the young Indian. After that Srikanth was left to play catch-up as the Brit won the first game 13-11. The 23-year-old Indian again took a 6-2 lead in the second game but this time went on to bag it 11-7.

The decider was similar to the first game as Srikanth took an 8-4 lead before Ouseph brough the difference down to just one point. Over the next four points, the Indian could only win one as Ouseph earned himself a match point. But, the Indian wasn't to be denied as he closed it out 13-11.

Hunters’ duo of Tan Boon Heong and Tan Wee Kiong were given the responsibility of the Trump card to salvage some pride for their team. They got off to a good start, winning the first game 11-7, but lost the next two to hand Warriors a 5-0 scoreline.

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