Highlights, PBL 2018, 2nd semi-final: Sikki Reddy-Kim Sa Rang take Bengaluru Blasters into the final

It's a disappointing night for @amdsmashmasters as the debutants bow out in the semi-finals, while @Blr_Blasters reach the final for the first time! Here's how things finished in the second semi-final of the #VodafonePBL Season 3.#BLRvAMD #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/vMZW7XEjt1

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

The Bengaluru Blasters camp erupt in celebration after their remarkable win. 

The duo of @sikkireddy and #KimSaRang win the match 15-12, 13-15, 15-9 to send @ViktorAxelsen-led @Blr_Blasters into the Final.
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD pic.twitter.com/Cbw5E06qXG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

It is Bengaluru Blasters who enter the Final of the PBL 2018. 

The duo of Sikki Reddy and Kim Sa Rang win the match 15-12, 13-15, 15-9 to send the Viktor Axelsen-led team into the Final. They will be up against Hyderabad Hunters.

12-8! The Bengaluru Blasters are three points away from reaching the final of PBL 2018

Yet again, it’s a tough call to choose between the two pairs. Reddy and Kim have a two-point lead over Juhl and Law in the decider. Oh, people are whistling here inside the arena.

8-7! Blasters go into the mid-game interval of the decider with a 1-point lead
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

What a tense game this is proving to be!

4-4 in the final game of this decider. Who will win and take their team to the final?#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

Kamilla-Lee win the second game 15-13! It is one game apiece and this mixed doubles match goes into a decider. What an intense semi-final tie it has been so far between these top quality teams!!!!

We go to the final game in the decider!

Juhl & Law Cheuk are not going to give up that easily as they win the second game 15-13.#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

11-9! to Reddy and Kim. They are on a roll at the moment. At one point, the duo was trailing 6-9 and look where we are now. It’s all about the combination!

11-9! The duo of Sikki and Kim Sa Rang in the lead and are looking to finish this match in this game. Will they lead the blasters into the final on Sunday?

8-5! Juhl and Law have played smartly after losing the opening game. Only Reddy has been able to read the game. On the other hand, Kim looks a bit uncomfortable at the back.

8-5! #Ahmedabad are in the lead at the mid-game interval of the 2nd game. Will this go into a decider?
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

.@ViktorAxelsen remains unbeaten in #VodafonePBL Season 3!

The Dane helps @Blr_Blasters draw level in the semi-final. What an intense tie this is!#BLRvAMD #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/YVwEZT4e6c

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

4-4! Scores level in the second game of the tie-decider. However, it is the Blasters duo who seem to be having the upper hand in the game. They have better coordination and are highly pumped up

15-12! The Blasters duo of Sikki Reddy and Kim Sa Rang win that opening game against Smash Masters. The Bengaluru side have one foot at the door to the final. Will the duo of Kamilla and Law push this into a decider?

12-12! A closely-contested opening game so far that has been filled with extremely short rallies
LIVE: https://t.co/eMyeVdz8rQ#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

10-10! very short rallies at the moment between the players as neither team is dominating proceedings so far in the opening game

8-6! The #Ahmedabad duo go into the mid-game break of the all-important match with a 2-point lead in the opening game
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

Juhl & Law Cheuk take the early lead in this match as they are up 6-3 against Kim Sa Rang & Sikki Reddy.#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

Sikki Reddy’s husband B Sumeeth Reddy is here to support the Bengaluru Blasters.

Lot of pressure on both these mixed doubles pairs as a win here will send their team to the final against the Hyderabad Hunters

This semi-final is going down to the wire. It is time for the deciding mixed doubles match between @KamillaRytter83 - Law Cheuk Him and #KimSaRang -
@sikkireddy
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

VIKTORIOUS!  Axelsen beats Prannoy in straight games  (15-11, 15-14)  to help Blasters stay in the hunt for a place in the final. The scores are tied at 3-3 now. Despite the loss, Prannoy gave Axelsen a tough fight there

.@ViktorAxelsen wins that all-important match 15-11,15-14 to ensure the @Blr_Blasters are still in contention for a place in the final.
The tie is at 3-3 after four matches.
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD pic.twitter.com/fc3o4svyns

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

12-12! Both players are making silly mistakes from the backcourt. Axelsen has applied too much power in his last two shots.

11-11! that was a smart leave from Prannoy to level the scores. Will this match see a decider?
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

10-8! A 21-shot rally ends in favour of the Dane who takes the lead in the second game

8-8! A change of racquet seems to be working for Prannoy who is sending one unplayable smash after the other to level the scores in the second game

8-4! Prannoy mistimes that smash to let Axelsen take a 4-point lead in the mid-game interval of the 2nd game
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

Nervous moments for both the camps as we inch closer towards the result of the tie

6-4! The World No 1 in the lead but it has been a series of unforced errors one after the other from both the players

1-0! Prannoy kick starts proceedings in the second game with a towering smash

15-11! Prannoy hits that long to see Axelsen clinch that opening game. The Dane is keeping the Blasters alive in the semi-final
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

15-11! Axelsen smashes into Prannoy’s defence to claim the opening game. The Dane uses height to his advantage at times to hit a variety of attacking strokes. The Indian started confidently, but later got beaten at the net. The second game gets underway

12-10! yet another backhand unforced error from Prannoy to let Axelsen take a 2-point lead
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

10-10! Both Prannoy and Axelsen have been excellent at the net, maintaining a balance between their strokes. This is quality badminton.

8-8! Axelsen levels things after the interval with a backhand winner at the net.

8-7! After a series of points exchanged by both players, it is Prannoy who has the lead in the mid-game break of the opening game
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

4-4! We can already see the rallies being played between the two shuttlers who love to retrieve as much as possible. Prannoy needs to be wary of Axelsen’s range as he isn’t the one who plays slow from the back.

3-3! Three unforced errors from Axelsen allowed Prannoy to take the lead, but the Indian hit an error of his own to allow the Dane to level the scores in this men’s singles match in the semi-final of PBL 2018

1-0! Axelsen draws first blood in the all-important match against HS Prannoy.
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

Match 4: It's the Vodafone Super Match of the day as @PRANNOYHSPRI faces @ViktorAxelsen. If @amdsmashmasters win this, then they will go through to the final!#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

The clash of modern day Taufik Hidayat and Lin Dan. Just kidding. Both Prannoy and Axelsen have a perfect mix of attack and defence which makes them so difficult to beat. If Prannoy wins this, Ahmedabad Smash Masters will go through.

It is now time for the 2nd men’s singles match of the day. World No 1 Viktor Axelsen turns up for the Bengaluru Blasters against World No 10 HS Prannoy. 

Axelsen has to win this game for Blasters to remain in the semi-final. A win here will confirm the Smash Masters’ entry into the final

World No 1 for a reason! Tai comes from a game down to beat Kirsty Gilmour 8-15, 15-13, 15-12. Remember, this was Smash Masters' 'Trump' match which means that @amdsmashmasters take the lead over Blasters.
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD pic.twitter.com/CqeNRs0mMU

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

Take a bow Tai Tzu Ying. She pulls off one of the most audacious returns to win the women’s singles match against Kirsty Gilmour 8-15, 15-13, 15-8. The World No 1 was tested to her limits by an enterprising Gilmour who matched the Chinese Taipei shuttler and even overplayed her in the first game and the most part of the second. But Tai Tzu Ying proved why she was the best in the world and switched gears and continued to rise and rise to help Ahmedabad Smash Masters lead 3-2 in their semi-final encounter against the Bengaluru Blasters

13-8! Tai Tzu is just two points away from clinching the decider and the game. The win will give Ahmedabad Smash Masters the lead in the semi-final encounter

Change of ends and its Tai with a 8-5 lead over Kirsty who looks a bit drained out after a tight second game. Still, it’s anybody’s game from here

8-5! The World No 1 continues her momentum from the decider to go into the mid-game interval with a three-point lead. A win here will keep the Ahmedabad Smash Masters in the hunt to reach the final in their debut season.

6-2! The Ahmedabad Smash Masters were counting on their marquee player Tai Tzu Ying to deliver and the Chinese Taipei player has been playing top-class badminton in the last 15-20 minutes to unsettle Gilmour and race to an early lead in the decider

4-1! Is this game slipping away from Gilmour? Tai Tzu opens up an early lead in the decider
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

This one is going down to the wire! Tai Tzu Ying makes a spirited comeback in the second game and wins 15-13 to force a decider in this do-or-die match for @amdsmashmasters!#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

15-13! Gilmour hits that long to let Tai Tzu win that game and enforce a decider. What a display of intense badminton by both players. The World No 1 uses all her experience of playing in crunch situations to win that roller-coaster of a second game

13-13! Tai Tzu takes the lead after what seemed like ages but Gilmour scores a point immediately to level the scores. What a nail-biting match

12-12! What a series of powerful backhands, drop shots and deep court shots by Tai Tzu to level scores with Kirsty Gilmour
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

12-10! Kirsty is just three points away from clinching one of the most memorable victories of her career. Will tai Tzu push this match into a decider or will Gilmour hold her nerves long enough to win the game

9-8! Tai Tzu is clawing her way back into the match. Her deception seems to start working, but is it a case of too little too late? Kirsty still in the lead
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

8-5! Gilmour has successfully restricted Tai from playing attacking strokes at the net. The Scottish ace looks in great touch and it’s her match to lose now.

8-5! @KirstyGilmourr in the lead in the mid-game interval. Will she take the Blasters into the final?
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

The Scottish ace is hitting some incredible crosscourt smashes towards the sidelines to floor the World No 1. The Blasters camp is just enjoying her trouble Tai. She leads 7-5 in the second game.

4-4! Tai Tzu is fighting her way back into the game. There is a clear increase in aggression from the Chinese Taipei shuttler. the scores are level and both tai Tzu and Ahmedabad Smash Masters will be hoping to push this match into the decide

3-2! Could this just be Kirsty Gilmour’s evening!! She is in the lead and is mixing her shots well to push Tai Tzu on the backfoot

Against all odds, Kirsty Gilmour beats Tai Tzu Ying 15-8 and takes the first game! No one would have seen this coming 😳#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

Tai has been making a lot of errors from the mid-court area. Credit goes to Gilmour’s court coverage. Her positioning has been on point since the start of the game.

What a performance by Kirsty Gilmour. She clinches the opening game 15-8! and has completely outplayed the World No 1.

10-7! Kirsty takes both the points after the mid-game interval and now has a three-point advantage over the World No 1 in the opening game of the 2nd semi-final

Tai hasn’t been able to take advantage of Gilmour’s high serves from the back of the court. The Chinese Taipei is known to go for the kill quickly but she is yet to attack in the opening game. Gilmour leads 8-7 at the mid-game interval

The deceptive Tai Tzu Ying versus jump smash queen Kirsty Gilmour.

6-3! A 21-shot rally there that went in favour of the Chinese Taipei shuttler, but Gilmour is proving to be no pushover and is testing the World no 1

What a win! Boe and Kim cruise past Nandagopal and Lee 15-13, 15-12 in Bengaluru Blasters’ ‘Trump match’. With this win, the Blasters take a 2-1 overall lead over Smash Masters in this tie.

It is time for the second trump match of the day as the Ahmedabad Smash Masters field World No 1 Tai Tzu Ying takes on Kirsty Gilmour of the Bengaluru Blasters.

Bengaluru Blasters make use of their Trump encounter to go 2-1 up in the semi-final against Ahmedabad Smash Masters. The Blasters pair of Mathias Boe and Kim Sa Rang were composed in the important moments of the match to edge out the Smash Masters pair of Nandagopal Kidambi and Lee Reginald 15-13, 15-12!

Bengaluru Blasters' @mathiasboe and Kim Sa Rang win the men's doubles encounter 15-13, 15-12!
The Blasters lead 2-1 in the semi-final
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

14-9! Mathias Boe and Kim Sa Rang are one point from winning the game and clinching the trump encounter. This will be hugely advantageous for the Blasters in the semi-final tie against Ahmedabad Smash Masters

11-8! The Blasters in the lead in the trump match. They can go 2-1 up in the semi-final encounter against the Smash Masters
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

8-7! #Bengaluru are right back into the second game with five successive points that sends them into the mid-game break with the lead
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

6-3! The duo of Nandagopal and Reginald make their way back into the match with a 3-point lead in the 2nd game. Will this game also go into the decider?
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

15-13! The Bengaluru Blasters duo of Kim Sa Rang and Mathias Boe clinch the opening game and give the Blasters a much needed boost in this semi-final clash against Ahmedabad Smash Masters

14-11! The Bengaluru Blasters duo are one point away from clinching the game.
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

In the first Trump match of the day, Blasters @mathiasboe and Kim Sa Rang lead 8-4 in the opening game against the Smash Masters duo of Nandagopal Kidambi and Lee Reginald
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

Powerful start from Kim Sa Rang & Mathias Boe as they race into a 5-1 lead against Lee Reginald & Kidambi Nandagopal in the first game.#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

Smash Masters’ Lee Chun Hei Reginald-Kidambi Nandagopal in action against Blasters’ Danish-Korean pair of Mathias Boe and Kim Sa Rang. This should be an interesting one.

First blood to @amdsmashmasters in the second semi-final!

Job well done for Sourabh Verma as he won 15-2, 14-15, 15-10 against Chong Wei Feng in the first match tonight.

Tie score: Bengaluru 0-1 Ahmedabad#BLRvAMD #VodafonePBL #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/oQ4VfXz0aM

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

In the second match of the day, it will be men’s doubles action between Kim Sa Rang-Mathias Boe of the Blasters and Lee Reginald-Nandagopal Kidambi of the Smash Masters. This will be the 1st Trump match

There we are! Sourabh Verma gives Ahmedabad Smash Masters the lead with a 15-2, 14-15, 15-10 win over Bengaluru Blasters’ singles specialist Chong Wei Feng.

In the end of that intense opening match to the 2nd semi-final of the Premier Badminton League 2018, it is Ahmedabad Smash Masters who go 1-0 up after Sourabh Verma gets the better of Malaysia’s Chong Wei Feng 15-2, 14-15, 15-10!

15-10! With that powerful winner, Sourabh Verma wins the first point of the night and puts Ahmedabad on the board. What a start to this semi-final
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

9-9! in the decider. Got to say that the support for Sourabh is massive at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium. Both shuttlers are doing their best to edge ahead.

The crowd erupts into Sourabh Chants

LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD pic.twitter.com/51XYDM7zp4

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

5-5! Quick anticipation from Sourabh Verma to equal the scores in the decider. Verma has been producing some impressive shots.The Indian needs to curb the unforced errors and letting Chong Wei earn easy points

2-2! What a brilliant display of defence by the Malaysian to level the scores in the decider against Sourabh Verma
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

Chong takes the second game to force the match into a decider. Neck-and-neck stuff from both the shuttlers after the break of second game. Chong made a few mistakes from the forecourt but recovered well after a disappointing opening game.

15-14! What a cross-court winner from Chong Wei Feng to push the opening match into the decider
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

14-14! The 28-shot rally sees Sourabh Verma win the point and see a roller-coaster of a second game reach an anti-climax

Some unforced errors by the Indian there. Notably, Chong is playing only from the mid-court and hasn’t moved much on the sidelines.

11-6! Chong Wei seems to have shifted gears and how!! He now has a five-point advantage over the Indian who seems pretty stiff in this must-win game for the Blasters

8-6! What a change in fortunes for Malaysia's Chong Wei Feng. He has put Bengaluru Blasters in a better position. Sourabh trails in the second game
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

8-6! It’s a tight contest between the two in the second stanza. However, Chong has a slender two-point lead at the break. Blasters’ coach Arvind Bhat is having a conversation with the Malaysian now.

5-5! Chong Wei Feng seems to have got his rhythm back as his shots seem to be filled with new-found precision that was clearly missing from him in that opening game where he got completely decimated by Sourabh Verma

15-2! Sourabh Verma never really allowed Chong Wei to gain any foothold in that opening game. Smash masters off to a dream start in their debut semi-final
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

Sourabh Verma eases past Chong 15-2 to take a well-deserved lead in the first match of the semi-final 2 tie. This is carnage. Verma’s variety of strokes proved to be too much for Chong who looks out of position.

At the mid-game break, its Verma who takes a healthy seven-point lead over Chong. HS Prannoy giving some tips to Verma

10-1! Chong Wei makes yet another unforced error to let Sourabh race away to a 9-point lead.

8-1! Sourabh Verma gets #Ahmedabad to a near-perfect start as he goes into the mid-game interval with a seven-point lead
LIVE: https://t.co/kCxjPo28EE#PBL2018 #BLRvAMD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 13, 2018

7-1! Sourabh Verma off to an excellent start for Smash Masters in the 2nd semi-final.

In the first match of the day Ahmedabad Smash Masters’ Sourabh Verma takes on Bengaluru Blasters’ Chong Wei Fang.

Here's the order of play for the second semi-final of the #VodafonePBL Season 3. This one promises to be a mammoth encounter! 🔥#BLRvAMD #SmashTheHouseDown pic.twitter.com/IJQLuvQ6GG

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) January 13, 2018

Hello and Welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the Premier badminton League’s second semi-final