MATCH REPORT: Chennai Smashers win their second consecutive game to go top of the table
THE DOUBLES AND MIXED DOUBLES PAIR gave Chennai Smashers their second consecutive win in the Premier Badminton League (PBL) as they edged out the Delhi Acers 4-3 at the Babu Banarasi Das Badminton Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday.
The first match in the tie was the men's doubles contest between Heong/Kien of Delhi and Pranaav/Chris Adcock of Chennai. The Smashers pair easily got their team the first point winning 15-12, 15-14.
The Delhi pair took an early lead in the second game but Adcock/Pranaav fought back to make the scores level. Pranaav/Chris was at their best against the top doubles shuttlers of Delhi.
The men's singles match between Ajay Jayaram of Delhi and Simon Santoso of Chennai saw the Indian notch up a straight games, rather easy 15-6, 15-9 win. it was a good comeback by the Indian shuttler after lagging behind initially in the first game. Ajay was leading at the interval in the first game, 8-3 and maintained the lead to claim the first game 15-6. Ajay showed some great character and composure against Santoso. The Indian shuttler got the better of the Indonesian and won the second game 15-9. He levelled the scores for his team at 1-1.
In the mixed doubles, Chris Adcock/Pia of Chennai won 14-15, 15-14, 15-14 against Gabrielle/Kien of Delhi. The Adcock couple were contesting against each other and as expected it was an exciting match. It was the only three-setter match in the tie and it was crucial for the Smashers as next up was the Trump match.
The Delhi pair won the first game after trailing initially. The next two sets were also neck-to-neck games, but the Smashers' pair was the better one today.
The women's singles tie between PV Sindhu of Chennai and Thulasi of Delhi was the Trump match for the Smashers. She easily won the match in straight games 15-5, 15-4 to give her team a lead of 4-1 going into the final match.
“It was a good match for me. I played many matches against PC Thulasi earlier and I know her game well. I started well and managed to maintain the presssure from the first game. Thulasi gave a good fight but I kept my strategy intact. Happy that I won the Trump Match for my team," said Sindhu.
The Smashers had already sealed the deal but Delhi was looking to catch up on the points when the final men's singles match between Tommy Sugiarto and Brice Leverdez of Chennai started. It was the Trump match for the Acers. The experienced Indonesian shuttler easily took the first game 15-4. Brice made a good comeback to delay the win for Tommy. An unforced error at the wrong time for the Frenchman gave Sugiarto a comfortable win.
A good show by the doubles and mixed doubles pairs gave Chennai Smashers their second consecutive while Delhi still look for a win to kickstart their campaign.
