PKL 12: Skipper Yogesh's defensive acumen seals win as Bengaluru Bulls survive Gujarat Giants' late surge

Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], September 22 (ANI): Bengaluru Bulls emerged victorious over Gujarat Giants in a pulsating contest at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur, winning 28-24 on Monday. Despite a late surge from the Giants, it was the Bulls' defensive discipline, led by skipper Yogesh, that made the difference with his six points alongside Akash Shinde's seven points, as their side returned to winning ways, a release from PKL said.
The Bulls made a better start in the opening minutes of their clash against the Giants, with raiders Aashish Malik and Akash Shinde chipping in early points to keep them ahead. They looked composed in both attack and defence, with Sanjay Dhull and Alireza Mirzaian ensuring the Giants' raiders didn't find much success. The Giants relied on Rakesh and Parteek Dahiya, but their raids didn't yield much as Bengaluru held the edge at 5-4.
The momentum shifted dramatically when Visvanth V produced a stunning Super Raid, taking out Satyappa Matti, Sanjay and Deepak Sankar in one breath. That moment turned the tide, lifting the Giants into the lead at 6-5 and shifting pressure back onto the Bulls.
The second quarter saw the Bulls wrest back momentum after the Giants had briefly taken control. A moment of brilliance from Akash Shinde, who pulled off a Super Raid to dismiss Shadloui and Nitin Panwar, and prevented an All Out - swung the contest firmly in the Bulls' favour. Shinde followed it up with successive successful raids, while Aashish chipped in to keep the Giants' defence under pressure.
The Giants tried to respond through Parteek Dahiya and Visvanth V, but the Bulls' defence held its ground with timely Super Tackles, including a crucial one from Jitender Yadav. That defensive solidity and Shinde's sharp raiding ensured the Bulls went into the halftime break with a 17-13 lead.
The Bulls tightened their grip on the contest, maintaining a healthy seven-point cushion over the Giants at the end of the third quarter. While the Giants pressed hard through Parteek and Visvanth, the Bulls' defence stood tall at crucial moments. Yogesh produced a decisive Super Tackle on Dahiya, a moment that denied Gujarat the chance to inflict an all out and swing the momentum.
That defensive resilience was backed by steady raiding contributions from Alireza and Aashish, keeping the scoreboard ticking for the Bulls. Even when Akash Shinde was tackled by Shadloui, Bengaluru's backline ensured they didn't lose their shape. By staving off repeated threats of an all-out, the Bulls carried their 23-16 advantage into the final stretch, looking the more composed of the two sides.
The final quarter saw Gujarat Giants mount a spirited comeback, combining swift raids from Rakesh and Parteek with multiple Super Tackles from Lucky Sharma and Shubham Kumar. The Giants clawed back points steadily, cutting into Bengaluru Bulls' lead and testing their composure.
However, the Bulls' defence, led by skipper Yogesh, proved too resilient to crack. A perfectly timed High Five from the skipper epitomised the Bulls' defensive acumen, thwarting THE Giants' final attempts at an all-out. They held on to their 28-24 lead, securing a hard-fought win. (ANI)