Hyderabad, Aug 1: A terrific all-round performance helped Gujarat Fortune Giants' beat Dabang Delhi 26-20 to notch up their first win of the Pro Kabaddi League here today (August 1).
Iranian defender Fazel Atrachali marshaled the defence and scored four points. For Dabang Delhi, it was a night to forget as their skipper Meraj Sheykh drew a blank.
Gujarat Fortune Giants opened their account in the third minute with a tackle point. They followed it up with two more points in the next minute to lead 3-0 after four minutes. Dabang Delhi scored their first point in the sixth minute and trailed 1-4 after eight minutes.
Dabang Delhi were a bit slow to start with but came into the game with two points as they trailed 4-5 after 13 minutes.
We've set the bar high. Now watch us raise it.
— GujaratFortunegiants (@Fortunegiants) August 1, 2017
Our first ever @ProKabaddi match ends in a 26-20 win. #GUJvDEL #GarjegaGujarat pic.twitter.com/9xGJXkHjEz
In a low-scoring first half, it was Gujarat who dominated the proceedings and led 8-4 after 17 minutes. Gujarat earned a technical point in the 19th minute and followed it up with an all out in the 20th minute and ended the first half leading 15-5.
Rakesh Narwal scored his second raid point in the 21st minute as Gujarat led 16-5. With Meraj Sheykh struggling in defence and offence, Dabang Delhi looked out of sorts and trailed 8-17 after 24 minutes.
Gujarat continued their dominance and picked points with ease and led 20-8 after 28 minutes. A second all out was inflicted by Gujarat in the 31st minute to lead 25-9.
Anand Patil scored two raid points for Dabang Delhi to give them some respectability to the score line as they trailed 11-26 after 35 minutes.
Dabang Delhi inflicted an all out in the 38th minute to reduce the deficit to nine points and trailed 19-26. Gujarat controlled the entire game and never looked like losing as they ran away comfortable winners in the end.
PTI