A tie against U.P and a brilliant win against the Telugu Titans in the last match mean that the Bengal Warriors have finally got their combination right. The close nature of the Zone B table means that a couple of wins more could see it at the top spot and in prime position to make the playoff stage of the tournament.
The team will be hoping that its defense can continue to put in a strong performance as it did against the Telugu Titans. Of course, the Titans are a defense-oriented side while the Patna Pirates are all about the offense.
Keeping the strong Patna Pirates offense quiet is not going to be easy.
Baldev Singh scored a High 5 in the last match and led from the front while Maninder Singh continued to be the heart of the Bengal Warriors offense with 11 points against the Telugu Titans. Maninder Singh will cherish his performance in the last match since it came against one of the strongest defensive sides in the competition.
Now, he and Ran Singh would be hoping to get past the Patna Pirates defense in a similar manner.
The Patna Pirates have won just two out of their last six games. Their home stretch was pretty brutal and took a lot out of the side. Having some time off would have helped the Pirates and we believe they are going to come back stronger.
Pardeep Narwal is one of the most accomplished Raiders in PKL and he is expected to be back to full fitness for this match. Narwal is on the verge of having yet another season with 100 points or more and is going to be leading the Patna Pirates offense in this game.
Narwal has an excellent record against the Bengal Warriors in the past and that should fill him with confidence as well.
While Pardeep Narwal is going to give a tough time to the Bengal Warriors defense, the Patna Pirates will be hoping that Jaideep is able to create an effective blockade on their side of the mat. Jaideep has 33 tackle points in ten games and is one of the best defenders of the league.
If he can find a way to keep Maninder Singh in check then the Patna Pirates would be well on their way to winning this match.
The Patna Pirates have dominated their rivalry with the Bengal Warriors. There have been 13 matches played between the two sides with the Patna Pirates winning 8 out of those matches. They have lost just two matches to the Bengal Warriors with three matches being ties.
We believe the Patna Pirates have the experience and skill on their side to be able to beat the Bengal Warriors for a second time this season.
Back the Patna Pirates to win.