PATNA, JAN 28   :     Dabang Delhi K.C. put U.P. Yoddhas to the sword by beating them 36-27 at the Patliputra Indoor Stadium here on Saturday night.

Ashu Malik’s 11 points as well as a defensive masterclass by Yogesh (5 points), Vikrant (3 points) and Vishal Bhardwaj (3 point) saw Dabang Delhi K.C. take the points and climb to third on the table.

Despite trading points evenly for the first five minutes, U.P. Yoddhas were immediately on the backfoot, mostly due to Dabang Delhi K.C. constantly logging touch points. They inflicted the first All-Out within the first quarter of the game to take a five-point lead, which they never gave up from thereon.

U.P. Yoddhas’ hopes rode on Gagana Gowda, who stepped up on an evening when Pardeep Narwal looked well below par. The star man did not log a single point in the first half.

Gowda, on the other hand, got the first Super Raid of the game with a few minutes of the half to go as he ensured the Yoddhas were not too far behind in the game. Dabang Delhi K.C. went into the break leading 20-13.

Gowda’s lone charge came to no avail, and with Pardeep Narwal faltering there was little that U.P. Yoddhas could do to contain Dabang Delhi K.C.’s dominance.

The lead kept rising each time Ashu Malik went on raid, and soon enough Dabang Delhi K.C. got a second All-Out, this time to extend into a seemingly unassailable 33-23 lead.

Gowda got his well deserved first-ever Super 10 in the final quarter of the game, but from there it was damage control for U.P. Yoddhas who looked to salvage a point from the encounter. It wasn’t to be though as Dabang Delhi K.C. took a massive nine-point victory.(UNI)