PKL 2019 | How Bengaluru Bulls tied last night's game against Dabang Delhi KC

Ajay, Ankit delayed all-out for Bengaluru Bulls in first half 

With two minutes to go in the first half, there was the danger of an all-out hanging over the Bengaluru Bulls. However, the young cover combination of Ajay and Ankit had some other ideas when they went for their raids. First, Ajay was the last man for the Bulls and he came in and got the bonus plus a touch on Ravinder Pahal, who tried to go at his ankles to stop the raider. This delayed the all-out but Ajay was taken care of by Naveen in Delhi’s very next raid. 

However, when Ankit came in as the last man in the next raid for the Bulls, he was clever enough to step into the lobby without a touch and Vishal Mane, Joginder Narwal, and Anil, the three Delhi defenders, all of whom tried to tackle him, went into the lobby were given out. Although the raider was also out and Delhi got one point, the defending champions were awarded three more and that not only helped them to delay the all-out but also they managed to level the scores before half-time.

Vishal Mane’s over-eagerness hurt Delhi in the dying moments

After Naveen’s successful do or die raid in the last minute of the game, there was a do or die raid for the Bulls with Delhi leading by 39-36. Banty came in for that with only 42 seconds to go in the game. While he was going for Joginder at the start of the raid, Mane looked tentative and tried coming for an advance tackle. He was too close for the raider and the youngster just touched the senior cover defender and came back quickly in just four seconds to give a ray of hope for the Bulls in this match. 

This meant that there were more than 38 seconds still remaining in the game and the lead was down to only two for Dabang Delhi. Although Naveen played a long empty raid in the next one, that was of no help for the table-toppers. Pawan went for the last raid for the Bulls and Anil gifted him a point quickly which was yet another mistake by the Delhi defence as the Bulls were now trailing by just one point and more importantly, three seconds were still there on the clock which meant there was a last raid to come for Delhi.  

Bengaluru’s high line of defence did wonders in the last raid

After all the insensibility of the Delhi defenders what the Bulls’ defence had to do is not allow Naveen to legitimate the raid. According to the rules of the sport, the raid is only considered to be a legitimate one if the raider crosses the baulk line. Bengaluru think tank decided to play a high line of defence as the defenders stood in front of the baulk line.

Naveen, who had completed his super 10 and has been in terrific form, attempted a couple of kicks on Amit Sheoran at the left corner but failed on both the occasions. The next thing he tried was crossing the baulk line and at that time, Amit was quick to pounce. The left corner went for Naveen’s ankle and the grip was strong enough not to allow the raider to get back to his own half safe. All other defenders jumped in for support and Naveen was tackled in the last raid of the match which led to the game ending in a tie. It was a great game for the neutrals as the battle of the two teams went till the last raid of the game and ended in a tie but both the teams must be thinking that they lacked something or the other and could have registered a win last evening.