PBL 2017-18: MATCH REPORT -- Delhi beat 3-0 Chennai Smashers; Adcock couple retire hurt after an injury to Gabby
DELHI DASHERS won the tie 3-0 beating Chennai Smashers in an unfortunate situation where Gabriella Adcock couldn't continue in her mixed doubles contest due to an injury she picked up and had to retire hurt.
It was nonetheless an exciting tie as the teams fought hard till the very end. The opening match was a trump for Delhi where Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov succumbed to defeat against Sumeeth Reddy/Lee Yang in straight games 13-15, 11-15. It was rather an easy win for the Smashers' pair.
The loss meant that Delhi's points will go in negative while Chennai led by a point. But it was soon brought back to positive, thanks to a gritty fight shown by Wong Wing Ki Vincent who defeated Brice Leverdez 15-10, 15-13.
This was followed by another men's singles clash that saw Delhi's Tian Houwei take the match 15-14, 15-10 beating Tanongsak to level the scores at 1-1.
It was then time for the match of the tie that women's singles shuttlers PV Sindhu and Sung Ji Hyun against each other. Another three-game battle that held everyone's breath till the last minute. Sindhu winning the opening game 15-11, gave her team the needed confidence but Sung Ji wouldn't have let this go off that easily. She fought back to win the second 15-13 and pushed the match into a decider. The final game was a neck-to-neck contest that some great show of badminton on court.
But finally the win went in favour of Delhi's Sung Ji 15-14 who helped her team have a two point lead with a match remaining.
The final match of the tie saw mixed doubles in action and it was trump for Chennai where their trusted pair Chris/Gabby Adcock were up against Ivanov/Ashwini Ponnappa. The game began on a good contest as it yet another neck-to-neck battle. And when the scores were at 6-5, Gabby while taking a shot twisted her ankle and fell to the ground in severe pain. The team physios were immediately got to the court. But she looked in deep pain and then the stretcher was brought and the match was called off with Chris/Gabby retiring hurt.
Losing the trump meant a deduction in point and that gave Delhi the tie 3-0.
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