In an electrifying encounter Bengaluru Bulls vs Tamil Thalaivas on PKL Season 12 Rivalry Week, Tamil Thalaivas defeated the Bengaluru Bulls with an edge-of-the-seat 35-29 victory at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Tuesday evening. Famously known as the Southern Derby, the encounter came with a turnaround of momentum, stellar raiding, and game-saving defending in the dying minutes.
Early Edge for Tamil Thalaivas in Southern Derby
The much-awaited Bengaluru Bulls vs Tamil Thalaivas contest started with both units showing attacking intent. Arjun Deshwal, the “Raid Machine”, helped the Thalaivas get off to a quick start through his swift raids, while Ronak provided value with essential tackles.
The Thalaivas were only ahead 9-7 after 10 minutes. However, the Bulls, led by Ahmad Reza Asgari and Alireza Mirzaian, continued to apply pressure with their speedy raids and cover defense.
Alireza’s Super 10 Turns the Tide for Bulls
The first half leaned in favour of the Bengaluru Bulls, where Alireza Mirzaian claimed a Super 10 against the Thalaivas. His raids disassembled the Thalaivas defence, and props up an equally important ALL OUT, with the Bulls leading with decent run to space.
Ganesha Hanamantagol also laid important raiding inputs, while Yogesh and Ahmad Reza provided the defensive stability for the Bulls to take control. Halfway through, the scoreline was Bengaluru Bulls 20 – 14 Tamil Thalaivas.
Thalaivas Spark Comeback as Arjun Deshwal Shines
In the second half, the Thalaivas picked up their pace. Three consecutive points put them on a roll, and Arjun Deshwal carried on his raiding excellence. His non-stop attack reduced the Bulls to a single player.
The turning point arrived when Alireza was brought down by Nitesh Kumar, enabling Tamil Thalaivas to inflict an ALL OUT and take a lead just before the second Time-Out.
Final Stage: Narender and Arjun Tie the Knot
As the Bengaluru Bulls vs Tamil Thalaivas showdown reached the final leg, both defensive units increased the heat. Ahmad Reza extracted important points for the Bulls, while Arjun Deshwal struck in a critical Do-or-Die raid to keep the Thalaivas ahead.
In the final minutes, Narender Kandola came forward with a game-sealing tackle on Ganesha, sending the game in Tamil Thalaivas’ favor. That did it, and the Tamil Thalaivas secured a tough-fought six-point victory over their Southern counterparts.
Match Summary: Bengaluru Bulls vs Tamil Thalaivas
Final Score: Tamil Thalaivas 35 – 29 Bengaluru Bulls
Venue: SMS Indoor Stadium, Jaipur
Top Raider: Arjun Deshwal (Super 10)
Top Defender: Narender Kandola (Game-winning final tackle)
Turning Point: ALL OUT on Bengaluru Bulls following Alireza’s dismissal
Match Winner: Tamil Thalaivas
Coming up PKL Season 12 Matches – September 17
Match 1: Telugu Titans vs Dabang Delhi K.C.
Match 2: Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates
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