Lucknow Aug 23 (IANS) Haryana Steelers pipped Dabang Delhi 27-25 in a Zone A contest of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 5 at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium here on Wednesday.
The match started on an even note as the scoreboard read 3-3 six minutes into the first half but Haryana surged ahead in quick time courtesy Deepak Dahiya s quick reflexes getting them a two-point advantage.
This was followed by four empty raids as both the teams played it smart but Vikas Khandola s successful raid helped Haryana break the deadlock and increase the gap to 8-3 before making it 12-3.
Delhi managed to reduce the gap with their Iranian import Abolfazl Maghsodlou bagging two points to make it 12-5 but Surjeet s successful raid made it 14-5 in favour of the Haryana boys.
With five minutes remaining in the half Abofazl sensed the urgency to pick two quick points as the scoreline read 15-7 even as Haryana consolidated their position by adding two more points.
Delhi made amends for their poor raiding by picking two more points as the first half ended 17-9.
Coming back Delhi upped the ante collecting four quick points to reduce the margin to 13-17 before squaring it off at 19-19.
With 10 minutes to go Haryana surged ahead with two quick points to make it 21-19 but Abofazl once again proved his utility with a successful raid to make it 21-20.
The match could have gone either way with Delhi coming back brilliantly to make it 24-22 before gaining one more point thanks to raider Abofazl s brilliant move.
With two minutes remaining Delhi skipper Meraj Sheykh made it count with another successful raid to make it 25-24 keeping the crowd on their feet.
In the dying minutes of the game Haryana surged ahead picking two quick points and took full advantage of Meraj s unsuccessful raid to register their third win in the tournament.
--IANS
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