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Preview: After 22 days of action, it is time for the finals of the Premier Badminton League 2018. After league games and knock-outs, the league is down to two teams who will be featuring in their maiden final. The Hyderabad Hunters led by former World No 1 and Olympic champion Carolina Marin will go up against the Bengaluru Blasters side led by World No 1 Viktor Axelsen. Both teams have had contrasting paths into the finals. [caption id=“attachment_4302513” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Image Courtesy: Twitter @PBLIndiaLive[/caption] The Hunters beat Delhi Smashers comprehensively 3-0 in their semi-final tie to book their berth, while Bengaluru Blasters had to labour past tournament debutants Ahmedabad Smash Masters 4-3 with the final mixed doubles match becoming the all-important tie. The Hunters’ road to final was a roller-coaster of sorts where after a rollicking start against the North Eastern Warriors, they lost to Ahmedabad Smash Masters in a close encounter but were completely outplayed in the subsequent group clash against Delhi Dashers. After that defeat against the Dashers, the Hunters switched gears and completely annihilated their next two opponents Awadhe Warriors and Bengaluru Blasters. They continued their unbeaten run in the semi-final against Delhi Dashers to reach the final. The Blasters won their first two matches against Delhi Dashers and Mumbai Rockets, but lost their following clashes against the Warriors, Chennai Smashers and the Hunters. The losses against Warriors and Smashers were very close games, similar to their semi-final encoutner against Ahmedabad Smaash Masters where they ended up on the right side. In the previous encounter between the two finalists, the Hunters had completely decimated the Blasters and the Carolina Marin side boasting of names like B Sai Praneeth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will hope to have a repeat of the performance against the Blasters side comprising players like Sikki Reddy, Chong Wei Feng and led by Axelsen.
Highlights, PBL 2018, Final: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Pia Zebediah guide Hyderabad Hunters to maiden title
Catch the live score and updates from the PBL Final between Hyderabad Hunters and Bengaluru Blasters
 "Highlights, PBL 2018, Final: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Pia Zebediah guide Hyderabad Hunters to maiden title")
What a final!!! It went till the last game and it is Hyderabad Hunters who lift their maiden title. The Hunters superbly lead by Carolina Marin managed to win the tie-decider to win the third edition of PBL. The duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Pia Zebediah were excellent in the final game to win the title for their team.
That’s it from us here and thank you for joining Firstpost’s coverage of the Prermier Badminton League 2018
The Hyderabad camp was in raptures after winning their maiden title
CHAMPIONS!@Hyd_Hunters win their first #VodafonePBL title in front of the home fans after a 5-match thriller against Bengaluru Blasters!#HYDvBLR #VodafonePBLFinal #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/iFjH1Y2TWM
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 14, 2018
WE HAVE A NEW WINNER!
Hyderabad Hunters are crowned as the CHAMPIONS after putting up an outstanding show to beat Bengaluru Blasters 4-3 in front of the home crowd!
1⃣5⃣-1⃣1⃣ | 1⃣5⃣-1⃣2⃣
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 14, 2018
Satwiksairaj & Pia Zebadiah come out on top to take the game against Kim Sa Rang & Sikki Reddy to win the title for @Hyd_Hunters!#HYDvBLR #VodafonePBLFinal #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/xAYOftvG7Y
13-10! @satwiksairaj smashes and serves his way into the lead. The Hunters are two points from being crowned the champions
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
The Sikki Reddy fan section erupts in cheers with that drop shot
8-6! The Blasters duo of Sikki Reddy and Kim Sa Rang go into the mid-game interval with a 2-point lead. Can they enforce a decider?
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
The Hyderabad camp is having fun. Marin and Praneeth are screaming their lungs out to support Satwik and Pia
15-11! The Hunters pocket the 1st game to go one step closer to lifting their maiden title
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
8-5! The Hunters in the lead in the mid-game interval. Satwik has been raining smashes one after the other
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
The Olympic Champion was at her best throughout the #VodafonePBL Season 3.
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 14, 2018
The Spanish wall could not be breached this season. Absolutely top-class! 👌#HYDvBLR #VodafonePBLFinal #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/SD2jqIwGUP
It is time for the last match of the day.
A winner-takes-all encounter between the duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Pia Zebediah and Bengaluru Blasters’ Kim Sa Rang/Sikki Reddy
1⃣5⃣-8⃣ | 1⃣5⃣-1⃣4⃣
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 14, 2018
After an intense game, Carolina Marin takes the match in straight games against Kirsty Gilmour.
With this win, Marin evens up the tie! Hyderabad 3-3 Bengaluru.#HYDvBLR #VodafonePBLFinal #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/yZDK7AoORL
Marin screams her way past Gilmour to level the scores between Hunters and Blasters. The Scottish ace at least managed to put up a fight
12-11! #Marin with four points in a row to take the lead in this topsy-turvy second game
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
10-8! And Surprise surprise!!! it is @KirstyGilmourr in the lead after winning six consecutive points. What a turnaround
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
#Marin leads 8-4! in the second game. She is well in control of the match
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
15-8! The Hunters Army are loving it. Marin takes a 1-0 lead over Gilmour in this exciting women’s singles tie. Both shuttlers mixed their shots well but it was the Spaniard who eventually made most of her chances.
.@CarolinaMarin pulls it off for the Hyderabad Hunters with a 15-8! win in the opening game. It has been a top-class performance by the Olympic champion
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
THE CROWD ERUPTS! Hunters’ Spanish ace Carolina Marin is in control of the match. Can Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour cause an upset and guide Blasters to their maiden PBL crown?
8-4! #Marin dominating proceedings in the opening game. Hunters with the lead in the mid-game interval
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/cT2ZsbWFGy #VodafonePBLFinal #HYDvBLR
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