Pro Kabaddi League 2017 Season 5: 5 best matches from Lucknow leg

In many ways, the Lucknow leg of Pro Kabaddi League season 5, mirrored the first two legs - Hyderabad and Nagpur. The home side, UP Yoddha struggled to use the vociferous crowd to their advantage. They managed to win just a single match at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium thereby reaffirming the fact that playing at home in season 5 is proving to be a bane rather than a boon.

The Lucknow leg though was home to some exciting and nerve wracking matches. Let's take a look at five of the best matches.

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#1 UP Yoddha vs U Mumba

Match number 34 saw the home side take on a distressed U Mumba outfit who were still reeling from multiple sub-par performances. Anup and co. desperately needed a win to boost their morale and that's exactly what transpired.

Captain cool and Shabeer Bapu were the stars that night, scoring 8 and 13 points respectively. Former U Mumba raider, Rishank Devadiga was in ominous form for Yoddha scoring a massive 14 raid points. He was in the mood to show Mumbai that they were wrong to let him go. Unfortunately for him, his colleagues failed to keep it tight at the back.

#2 Patna Pirates vs Puneri Paltan

Pardeep scored a massive 19 points that night

Built up as the match between two of the most attacking sides in the league, this encounter did not fail to deliver. A massive 89 points were scored that night. At the end of 40 minutes, it was Pune who emerged victorious with a 47-42 win.

Fans and critics kept wondering how high can Pardeep Narwal go? Well, he definitely went quite high that night, scoring a mind boggling 19 raid points. But Paltan showed that it's always team work that makes the dream work. Rajesh Mondal, Deepak Hooda and Sandeep Narwal were all in supreme form that night.

#3 UP Yoddha vs Bengal Warriors

Deepak Narwal scored an impressive super 10

Over the course of season 5, we've witnessed multiple close encounters. But match number 41 produced one of the best till date. Playing at home, UP were intent on putting an end to their poor home form. Captain Nitin Tomar scored 8, Rishank Devadiga scored 7, even Rajesh Narwal was good that night. But the Warriors once again showed why they are so frustrating to deal with.

It was Deepak Narwals time to enter the scene, the raider scored a super 10 as Bengal's defenders stifled U.P's raiders in the second half. The match ended 32-21 in Bengal's favour.

#4 UP Yoddha vs Tamil Thalaivas

Thalaivas huffed and puffed their way to a draw

Once again, the home side found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. They were up against one of the weakest sides of season 5 so far, Tamil Thalaivas. Another game and the Yoddha fans had to endure another night of frustration.

Leading 19-11 at the end of the first half, U.P have nobody but themselves to blame for gifting a draw to Thalaivas. Once again, Rishank's stupendous performance (16 raid points) went in vain as the match ended 33-33 at the end of 40 minutes. Thalaivas captain, Ajay Thakur delivered when it mattered with a laborious super 10.

#5 Gujarat Fortunegaints vs Puneri Paltan

Atrachali was in fine form for Gujarat against Pune

The only team so far who have made home advantage count, Gujarat Fortunegaints carried forward their seamless home form into the next leg. Up against a much fancied Puneri Paltan, Fazel and co. surprisingly inflicted a massive 35-21 defeat on the Paltan.

Iranian powerhouse, Fazel Atrachali finished the night with a massive 9 points to his name. None of the usual suspects for Pune fired that night. Gujarat kept chipping away, scoring at regular intervals and ensured Pune never got the chance to build any sort of momentum.