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In an exciting PKL 11 clash at the GMCB Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday (October 20), the Jaipur Pink Panthers narrowly edged past the Bengal Warriorz 39-34. It was a match filled with intense moments and momentum shifts, with both teams displaying their prowess in offense and defense.
Arjun Deshwal's commanding performance, which saw him score 15 points for Jaipur, played a pivotal role in their victory. Meanwhile, Bengal’s Nitin Dhankar kept his team in the game, contributing 13 points albeit in a valiant effort.
After the match, Bengal Warriorz captain Fazel Atrachali expressed his frustration with the referees, blaming some of the decisions for his team's inability to make timely substitutions.
"Small mistakes, I think first of all was from the referee. The referee didn't let our team go for the substitute. Our team was good and the starting was very good. But two times we wanted to substitute and referee from outside didn't let our players go there," he said during a press conference after the game.
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He admitted that the team made some minor mistakes in their opening PKL 11 fixture but believed the referee’s decisions had a significant impact on the game.
He explained that Bengal had planned substitutions twice but could not execute their plans.
"Our players are young and they didn't know what to do. Little pressure came to our team otherwise our team was going good. Some mistakes are okay but this happened two times," Fazel explained.
Bengal suffered a close loss in their PKL 11 season opener
The game started with Bengal Warriorz showcasing their defensive skills, with captain Fazel Atrachali leading from the front. They held a narrow lead early on as both teams adopted a cautious approach.
However, as the first half progressed, Jaipur’s Arjun Deshwal broke through Bengal’s defenses with a series of successful raids. A crucial moment came when Abhijeet Malik's tackle allowed Jaipur to inflict an all-out on Bengal, swinging the momentum firmly in favor of the Pink Panthers. At half-time, Jaipur led 21-18.
The second half saw more twists and turns, with Bengal trying to mount a comeback. Despite a late surge from Nitin Dhankar, another all-out by Abhijeet Malik and a critical super tackle by Abhishek KS in the dying minutes ensured Jaipur held on for a 39-34 victory in what was probably the best game of the season so far in PKL 11.
Bengal Warriorz face UP Yoddhas next up
The Bengal Warriorz will now turn their attention to their next PKL 11 match against the UP Yoddhas on Thursday (October 24). Speaking about the upcoming game, their coach acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating:
"UP is a good team. They have talented players and their raiding unit is very strong as well. But we will study and strategise and come back stronger the next game."
Fazel Atrachali, when asked about his thoughts on facing Bharat Hooda, confidently remarked:
"No player is difficult for me if I play well. If I and my team play well. Bharat [Hooda] is an easy player to play against, if we play badly, he will be a difficult one."
