PBL 2017: Hyderabad Hunters edge Bengaluru Blasters in a thrilling tie

Bengaluru: Rio Olympics gold medallist Carolina Marin won her trump game after facing some anxious moments against Ashwini Ponnappa as Hyderabad Hunters defeated Bengaluru Smashers 4-3 in a sea-saw Premier Badminton League contest in Bengaluru on Saturday. Marin defeated Ponnappa 9-11, 11-5, 11-8 in the deciding match of the tie. With this win, Hyderabad move to third in the points table. [caption id=“attachment_2142633” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Carolina Marin. AFP[/caption] Though Ponappa clinched the first game, she could not sustain the tough competition as Marin powered her way back to win the tie for her team. Ponnappa was no match for the Spaniard’s aggressive game as she committed far too many errors, giving the match on the platter in next two games. The spectators were surprised to have seen Ponnappa playing the singles match against the much seasoned Marin. The Bengaluru girl is known for her exploits in doubles. Earlier, after losing the first game, Bengaluru mixed doubles players - Ko Sung Hyun and Sikki Reddy - drew level 1-1 against Hyderabad’s Carolina Marin and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, with a dominating 11-9, 11-7 win. Danish player Viktor Axelsen, the current world Number two, won the crucial trump match 11-5, 11-6 against Sai Praneeth of Hyderabad to help Bengaluru to take 2-1 lead in the tie, but men’s doubles pair Tan Boon and Tan Wee brought Hyderabad into reckoning by winning the crucial game 11-5, 11-8, pushing the game into the super game, which saw Ponappa take on the mighty Marin. After Axelsen won the trump match, it was up to Bengaluru men’s doubles pair, Hyun and Yeon Seong, to win the crucial match against Tan Boon and Tan Wee to seal the tie in their favor. Axelsen showed his class by going into the break leading 6-2 against Hyderabad’s Sai Praneeth, and then bagging the first game 11-6 after taking full advantage of his height, which gives him power to smash the “bird” hard, giving hardly any chance for the opponents to return. The Dane started well in the second game also by taking 6-2 lead over Sai Praneeth into the break. Going ahead, Axelsen created some great angles and bagged the game 11-5. However, Bengaluru started of badly by losing the first tie to Hyderabad 8-11 and 7-11, when Sameer Verma trounced Boonsak Ponsana in the men’s singles. The sensational Verma took the opening game 11-8 against Boonsak, giving a great start for Hyderabad. Verma started with a bang by winning six points on the trot as he showed his prowess in style. Down 0-7, Boonsak came back by winning six points, by taking the score to 6-8, but conceded next three points to make way for Verma to pocket his first game, but not before pulling off one point. Boonsak, however, had a much better start in the second game after he took an early lead 4-3 against Verma, but the Indian shuttler came back and raced past 6-5 into the break. After the break, Verma did not allow Boonsak to win any points, but only one, before pulling of the first tie of the night for Hyderabad.