Pro Kabaddi League 2018: Telugu Titans hammer Puneri Paltan 28-25 in inter-zone face-off

With the heroics of Rahul Chaudhari (8 points), Nilesh Salunkhe (6 points), Krushan Madane (4 points),  the Telugu Titans notched up a clinical  win in their Interzone match of the Pro Kabaddi League here Tuesday after they got better of their opponents Puneri Paltan 28-25.  Pune made a splendid comeback in the dying moments of the game but that wasn't enough for a win. Telugu Titans took an initial 3-1 lead after a few `empty' raids by the Pune team. But a Super Tackle in the seventh minute by Pune brought them back into the game to reduce the deficit to 4-5. Another Super Tackle by Puneri Paltan helped them to level scores 6-6, with 10 minutes remaining for the end of the first half. However, the Titans soon came back and inflicted the first `all out' of the match to surge ahead to 11-7 and successful raids kept on increasing their lead which soon became 14-8. Rahul Chaudhari earned his side another two points to make it 17-8. At the halfway stage, Telugu Titans comfortably were poised ahead at 17-11. After the change of ends, Telugu Titans inflicted another All Out as their lead surged to 22-12 with 15 minutes for the final whistle. When it seemed that Hyderabad could win it easily, Pune seemed to bounce back with a few successful raids and tackles to make it 19-27, but still were playing the catch-up game. Pune inflicted their first All Out to make it 24-27, but Telugu Titans held their nerves to emerge triumphantly.