The Chennai Smashers registered their second straight in the 2016 Premier Badminton League, beating the Delhi Acers 4-3 in the opening match of the double header in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Here’s how all the action unfolded:
1.Men’s Doubles: Tan Boon Heong/Koon Kiet Keat(DA) vs Chris Adcock/Pranaav Jerry Chopra(CS)
The opening game saw the Chennai pair take the early upper hand as they took a 3-1 lead, but at the 5-1 mark, the Malaysian duo staged a terrific comeback, winning 4 points straight to level scores at 5-5 and then won 3 out of the next 4 points to lead 8-6 at the interval mark.
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The topsy-turvy match continued after the break as well, but it was the Malaysian pair who held all the aces, but at the 9-11 mark, the Chennai pair made a fine comeback, clinching two consecutive points to level the scores at 11-11 before winning 4 out of the next 5 points to seal the game 15-12.
The second game saw Heong and Keat begin in positive fashion, as they took a 3-1 lead before Chennai duo made another comeback into proceedings, winning 3 out of the next 4 points to level scores at 4-4 before taking the lead and maintaining it throughout to lead 8-5 at the interval.
The other end of the break saw Heong and Keat make a good fightback as they clinched first clinched 5 out of the next 7 points to level the scores at 10-10 before taking an 11-10 lead. But the Malaysian duo refused to throw in the towel and equalised the toe at 14-14 to take it into a sudden death, but failed to hold on to their nerve at that stage, thereby handing the Smashers duo a straight game win.
Final Scoreline- Chris Adcock/Pranaav Jerry Chopra beat Tan Boon Heong/Koon Kiet Keat 15-12 15-14
2.Men’s Singles- Ajay Jayaram(DA) vs Simon Santoso(CS)
The opening game began on a keen note, as both players won 2 out of the opening 4 points but it was Jayaram who took the early upper hand, winning 3 points straight to go 5-2 up. He then stretched that lead further and took an 8-3 advantage at the break.
The Indian continued his domination after the break as well, coasting his way through the game to clinch it 15-6.
The second game began in similar fashion to the first and it was the Indian, who once gained control of proceedings at the 2-2 mark, winning 3 points straight to go 5-2 up before leading 8-3 at the break.
The domination by Jayaram continued at the other end as well as Jayaram made very quick work of Santoso and clinched the game 15-9 and made it 1-1 in the tie.
Final Scoreline- Ajay Jayaram beat Simon Santoso 15-6 15-9
3.Mixed Doubles: Koon Kiet Keat/Gabrielle Adcock(DA) vs Chris Adcock/Pia Zebadiah(CS)
The opening game saw both pairs win 2 out of their opening 4 points before Kiet and Adcock won 3 out of the 4 points to go 4-3 up. But the Chennai duo fought back soon enough, winning 4 out of the next 7 points to lead 8-7 at the interval mark.
14-9 mark with 5 game points at stake, the pair of Keat and Adcock staged a superb comeback, clinching 5 points straight to take the game into a sudden death situation, where they held on their nerve to win the opening game 15-14.
The second game saw Keat and Adcock take an early 3-1 lead before the Chennai pair won 3 out of the next 4 points to go 4-3 up and then carried that lead forward to go 8-5 up at the break.
The other side of the break saw Keat and Adcock make another comeback as they clinched 6 of the next 9 points to make it 11-11. But the Chennai pair made a superb comeback, winning 4 out of the next 7 points, including a sudden death point to win the game 15-14 and make it 1-1.
The decider saw both pairs win 4 out of their opening 8 points before Adcock and Zebadiah won 4 out of the next 6 points to lead 8-6 at the interval. The tide shifted once again at the other side of the break as Adcock and Kiet fought back, to win 7 out of the next 9 points to go 13-10 up. But the Chennai pair refused to throw in the towel, and won 4 out of the next 5 points to make it 14-14 and then held their nerve to clinch a thriller 15-14.
Final Scoreline- Chris Adcock/Pia Zebadiah vs Koon Kiet Keat/Gabrielle Adcock 14-15 15-14 15-14
4.Women’s Singles: PC Thulasi(DA) vs PV Sindhu(CS) [Trump called by CS]
The opening game both players win 2 out of their opening 4 points before Sindhu took the lead and then clinched 5 points straight to go 8-2 up at the interval. The Smashers captain continued her domination at the other end of the interval as well and clinched the game 15-5.
The second game saw Sindhu start off on a positive note, as she raced away to 4-1 lead, thereby putting enormous pressure on her opponent. She then further stretched that lead and took a 5-point advantage to go 8-3 up at the interval.
The two-time World Championships bronze medalist carried on her domination after the break, winning a whopping 6 out of the next 7 points straight to cling the game 15-4 and win her second straight Trump Match.
Final Scoreline- PV Sindhu beat PC Thulasi 15-5 15-4
5.Men’s Singles: Tommy Sugiarto(DA) vs Brice Leverdez(CS)[Trump Match DA]
It was Sugiarto, who took the initial upper hand, racing away to a 4-1 lead in the opening game and then carrying that advantage forward to lead 8-2 at the interval mark. The other side of the break saw the WorlkdNo. 12 continue his domination and eventually clinched the tie 15-4.
The second game saw both pairs win 4 out of their opening 8 points but it was Leverdez, who held aces after that, winning 4 out of the next 5 points to lead 8-7 at the break. He continue to hold the upper hand after the interval and clinched the second game 14-11 to win the Trump Match for his side.
Final Scoreline- Tommy Sugiarto beat Brice Leverdez 15-4 15-11
