Jaipur (Rajasthan), Sep 18 (NationPress) Puneri Paltan showcased an impressive performance, clinching a decisive 40-22 victory over U Mumba in the Maharashtra Derby during Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) at the SMS Indoor Stadium on Thursday.

The Season 10 Champions delivered a masterclass in defense, amassing 20 tackle points (including six Super Tackles) and reinforcing their position at the top of the table. Gurdeep led the charge with a High Five, complemented by Gaurav Khatri and Abinesh Nadarajan, who each recorded four tackles. On the offensive front, Stuwart Singh contributed eight points.

Puneri Paltan's defense set the stage with Abinesh Nadarajan and Gurdeep executing tackles, while Sachin Tanwar and Pankaj Mohite carried out raids to establish an early four-point lead. Amirmohammad Zafardanesh of U Mumba initiated scoring on both fronts, narrowing the gap to two points.

Gaurav Khatri for the Paltan and Sunil Kumar for U Mumba marked their first points, as defenses maintained dominance in this intense encounter. Anil broke the ice on a Do-Or-Die raid, but Aslam Inamdar failed to follow suit, leaving the teams tied at 5-5 after the first quarter.

Puneri Paltan gained momentum to secure a four-point lead, though the advantage was fleeting as Amirmohammad Zafardanesh reduced it to one with a two-point raid. The back-and-forth nature of the game persisted, with Rakesh Rajesh executing a Super Tackle to maintain the Paltan’s lead. They ended the first half ahead with a score of 15-10.

Early in the second half, a Super Tackle by Vishal Bhardwaj widened the gap to seven points. Another Super Tackle from Abinesh Nadarajan kept Puneri Paltan in control of the Maharashtra Derby.

U Mumba struggled to catch up as Puneri Paltan continued to dictate the game's pace. Their defensive strategy proved effective, leading to a comfortable score of 23-15 entering the final quarter.

Rinku kept U Mumba's scoreboard active with four tackles, while Sandeep Kumar added to the tally to keep it a seven-point game. Aslam Inamdar finally scored with a bonus and followed up with a Super Tackle, strengthening his team's position with a ten-point lead.

Gurdeep secured his High Five, and Gaurav Khatri completed a brilliant tackle, triggering an All Out on U Mumba. Super-sub Stuwart Singh concluded the match with a Super Raid, finishing as the highest scorer for his team and sealing Puneri Paltan's 40-22 victory.