MUMBAI, JAN 6    :    Despite a remarkable second half comeback, Patna Pirates fell short by one point as they suffered a 37-38 against Dabang Delhi KC at the DOME by NSCI here on Friday night.

Dabang Delhi K.C.’s Ashu Malik (10 points), Patna Pirates’ raiders Sachin (10 points) and Sudhakar M (9 points) were the standout performers of the evening.

In a blistering first half performance, Dabang Delhi K.C. inflicted two All-Outs on the Pirates. The first came within the first 10 minutes, as they took a five point lead, and the second followed merely six minutes later to give them a 10-point advantage.

Dabang Delhi K.C.’s raiders, Ashu Malik, Meetu Sharma and Manjeet logged an incredible 13 points from 20 raids in the first half, leaving Patna Pirates chasing shadows. Ashu Malik, in particular, was not tackled even once in the first half and even registered a Super Raid with a minute left in the half. Time and again Sachin had pulled the Pirates out of trouble in the season, but on the day, he was subdued by a confident Dabang Delhi K.C. defence as they took a 13-point advantage into the break.

Patna Pirates’ defence finally clicked into place in the second half, and inflicted an All-Out of their own, to cut the lead down to six points. Sachin came to life soon after, registering a Super Raid to take out Ashish, Vikrant and Mohit to pull his team closer.

Patna Pirates’ surge continued through the half, as Sachin and Sudhakar M’s brilliant raiding got them within three points of Dabang Delhi K.C. late in the game. In the end though, Dabang Delhi

K.C. held on by running down the clock to take the win.(UNI)
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