Chennai, Oct 4 (NationPress) The Gujarat Giants have successfully ascended from the last position on the points table in Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) following a commanding 47-40 victory against the Bengal Warriorz at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. It was a remarkable performance from skipper Rakesh Sungroya, who racked up 18 points, yet key contributions from all-rounders Visvanth V, Ankit Dahiya, and Mohammadreza Shadloui were equally crucial in securing the win.

On the opposing side, Devank Dalal made history with his 25 points, becoming the first player to score over 20 points in three consecutive matches. However, the lack of support from his teammates, with Punit Kumar only managing 4 points, significantly hindered the team’s prospects.

The Gujarat Giants kicked off strongly in the opening quarter, with their standout raider Rakesh spearheading the offense. He appeared unstoppable, accumulating raid points with ease, including a pivotal All Out that dismantled the initial resistance from the Warriorz. With sharp defensive tackles from Mohammadreza Shadloui, the Giants quickly gained the upper hand, leaving the Warriorz scrambling for answers.

Despite Devank making attempts to keep his team competitive with successful raids, the Giants’ defense remained resilient, maintaining their momentum. The combination of Rakesh’s incisive raids and timely tackles from Ankit Dahiya allowed the Giants to secure a significant lead, ending the first 10 minutes at 14-5 in their favor.

The Giants converted their early dominance into an overwhelming display in the second half of the first period, leaving the Warriorz little room to breathe. Rakesh dazzled with his raids, while Shadloui showcased his prowess by scoring in both offense and defense, including another powerful All Out that widened the point gap.

So pronounced was the Giants’ dominance that they set new records, becoming the first team in PKL 12 to achieve three All Outs within the first 20 minutes and recording the highest first-half score by any team. Although the Warriorz had some moments of brilliance from Devank and Manprit, they lacked the consistency required to halt the onslaught from the Giants. By halftime, the score stood at 31-12 in favor of Gujarat.

In the third quarter, the Warriorz displayed more fight, attempting to close the gap. Devank was pivotal in their resurgence, executing confident raids and consistently challenging the Giants’ defense. He gained support from Punit Kumar and Sushil Kambrekar, who contributed timely raid points. On the other hand, Ankit Dahiya continued to deliver crucial raids, with Visvanth providing breathing room through a Super Tackle.

Despite the Giants’ overall control, the Warriorz managed to inflict an All Out on them near the end of the quarter. This rare setback for the Giants did not derail their lead, which remained substantial. At the conclusion of the third quarter, the Giants held a 39-25 advantage.

The final moments of the match belonged to the Warriorz, who mounted a spirited comeback led by their star Devank. He relentlessly pressured the Gujarat Giants’ defense, securing touch points with impressive consistency.

However, despite the late push from the Warriorz, the Giants’ early lead proved sufficient for them to clinch the victory. Rakesh continued to provide vital raid points while Ankit Dahiya and Shadloui ensured the Giants maintained their grip. The Warriorz’s rally did close the gap, but the Giants held on to win by a margin of 7 points.