MATCH REPORT: Sindhu and trump help Chennai Smashers overcome Mumbai Rockets
CHENNAI SMASHERS BEAT MUMBAI ROCKETS 4-3 in a thrilling match on the second day of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) held at the National Sports Club of India, Mumbai.
Mumbai Rockets and Chennai Smashers began with the mixed doubles contest and it was won by Chris Adcock/Pia Zebadiah (Chennai) 15-10, 7-15, 15-11 against Vladimir Ivanov/Kamilla Juhl (Mumbai). The first game saw the Smashers pair dominate throughout, while in the second their opponents easily over-powered them. In the third set, Adcock/Pia showed that mixed doubles is their forte and won the match comfortably to put Chennai ahead.
“It is important to start the League on a winning note and we are delighted to kick start our campaign with a victory. Our opponents made a brilliant come back in the second set but we managed to hold our nerves in the third set and gave our team a very important win,” the winning pair said.
The second match to follow was men's singles tie which HS Prannoy of Mumbai won 15-8, 15-11 against Brice Leverdez of Chennai. Though Prannoy won the first game with ease he felt the pressure in the second game. But Prannoy kept his calm and when the score was levelled at 11-11, the Indian shuttler ran away with the remaining four points to win the game and the match.
“I was in a little bit of pressure because I lost yesterday’s match against Awadhe Warriors. I was determined to win this one today. This was a good match today as I won it convincingly,” said Prannoy.
The men's doubles saw Ivanov/Boe of Mumbai win a hard-fought tie 15-10, 9-15, 15-13 against Chris Adcock/Pranaav Jerry Chopra of Chennai. The Dane-Russian pair of Mumbai lived up to the expectations winning the first game easily. However, they could not continue their dominance in the second set and lost 9-15. The third set was a neck-to-neck affair but eventually it was Boe/Ivanov who prevailed. This was Mumbai's Trump match and the win gave them two important points and a good lead at 3-1.
“After losing our first game of the match we did not fall apart and in this important Trump match we managed to get 2 vital points for our team which will consolidate our position. Also it’s a nice feeling to get wins for your team,” the duo said.
Chennai had to win the next match to stay in the tie as their Trump match was going to be the last men's singles tie after the women's singles match between PV Sindhu and Han Li of Mumbai. Sindhu, who started as the favourite did not have it easy and was stretched before winning 15-8, 11-15, 15-8. Though Li looked threatening, Sindhu easily won the first game 15-8. Li went on the aggressive in the second game and was leading before Sindhu fought back to level the game 11-11.
Li did not give Sindhu any more space in this game and closed it but the former was just too good and went onto win the game 15-11. In the third game Sindhu comfortably took control of the game leading 7-2 and maintaining it throughout to give her team a point and reduce the margin.
The last match of the tie turned out to be the decider as being the Trump match for Chennai, a win would take them ahead of Mumbai. Simon Santoso of Chennai started as favourite against Gurusaidutt of Mumbai, as the former had a 1-0 lead in the head-to-head count at international stage. But Santoso had the added pressure of the game being a Trump match and the final score depending on the game. But he did not show any sign of the pressure getting to him as he romped home 15-9, 15-8.
This gave Chennai the vital two points required to overtake Mumbai and register their first win in their PBL campaign in what is their debut season.
