Devank and Ayan power Patna Pirates to 32-28 win over Dabang Delhi, qualify for PKL 11 Final

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The Patna Pirates booked their spot in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 Final after a thrilling 32-28 victory over Dabang Delhi K.C. in the second semi-final, held at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune on Friday.

In a nail-biting contest, Patna's Devank and Ayan played pivotal roles alongside Shubham Shinde, who claimed a High 5, and Ankit, who added four tackle points to their tally.

The Pirates started the match with great energy, with Devank quickly making his presence felt, reaching the milestone of 300 career raid points. He kicked off his performance with three successful raids, helping his team take an early lead. Dabang Delhi K.C. soon found themselves on the backfoot as Shubham Shinde tackled Ashu Malik, giving Patna the upper hand.

However, Delhi responded with resilience, particularly after Rahul's tackle on Devank. Naveen Kumar then followed up with a successful Do-or-Die Raid, bringing them to within a point of Patna. But Ayan stepped up for Patna, and his raiding efforts saw them extend their lead to five, with the score at 8-3 after the first ten minutes.

A Super Raid from Mohit revived Delhi's hopes, reducing the gap, but Patna's Devank quickly resumed control, and Shubham Shinde delivered a crucial blow by tackling Ashu Malik, triggering an All-Out that put Patna firmly in the driver's seat.

Delhi's raiders struggled against Patna's strong defense, with Rahul and Yogesh making some progress, but the Pirates were still in command, heading into the halftime break with a 17-10 lead.

The second half began with both teams focusing on defensive efforts, but Patna's Shubham Shinde and Deepak kept applying pressure. Delhi, however, managed to find their rhythm with contributions from Sandeep and Yogesh. They slowly chipped away at the deficit, reducing it to five points, sparking renewed hope for the season eight champions.

Delhi continued their fightback, narrowing the gap further with Mohit's two-point raid and Ashu Malik's two-point raid, making it 18-22. With under seven minutes remaining, Delhi leveled the score at 25-25, making it anyone's game. They even took their first lead of the match after Rahul's stunning tackle on Devank, followed by an All-Out on Patna.

But Patna responded in the crucial final moments. Shubham Shinde completed his High-5, helping them regain a slim one-point lead. In the closing seconds, Ayan and Mohit exchanged successful Do-or-Die raids, keeping Patna ahead.

Ankit's swift tackle on Naveen Kumar, followed by Ayan's two-point raid, sealed the victory for Patna, who triumphed in the final moments to secure their fifth PKL Final appearance.

Patna Pirates will now face the Haryana Steelers in a thrilling final on Sunday, 29th December.