Pro Kabaddi League Season 5 : U Mumba beat UP Yoddha by 37-34
PKL Season 5 : U Mumba rallies to beat UP Yoddha
Teamwork overcame individual brilliance with *U Mumba* overturning repeated deficits for a crucial 37-34 win against *UP Yoddha* as the "Pro Kabaddi League" made its fourth pit-stop in the city here on Friday.
The Anup Kumar-led side came back from a 4-12 deficit early in the first half and then again from 30-26 even as host UP faltered in the final few minutes.
With exceptional raiders on both sides, the winner was always to be decided by the better defence and U Mumba edged ahead, the vast experience in its ranks playing a big role.
For a large part, though, UP stayed in the race — only through Rishank Devadiga and captain Nitin Tomar. Devadiga scored 14 points, including a couple of three-pointers, while Tomar broke through at crucial moments.
Shabeer Bappu did both the jobs for Mumba, scoring 13 points and, more importantly, at crucial junctures. With both teams effecting a couple of all-outs each, there was little to separate the sides.
The inter-zonal challenge saw the two struggling sides go all out for the win with Anup’s leadership playing an important role in regrouping his team after a disappointing first half that saw the Mumba defence go haywire.
In fact, every time a "UP Yoddha" raider walked in, he looked like walking away with a point as the Mumba chain broke repeatedly.
Post break, however, it was a different picture. Substitute Darshan Kadian, playing only his second game, was entrusted with the job of scoring under pressure towards the end, and the youngster delivered.
Surinder Singh, who appeared clueless, became the top raider with five points even as UP’s defence, in the face of some smart and relentless aggression from Mumba, slipped despite Jeeva Kumar’s presence.
*U Mumba*, which came into the tie with a huge 21-39 loss in its last outing, would be hoping this to be the change of fortunes it needs.
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