PBL 3 Tie 5: Adcocks to the Smashers’ rescue, Sindhu survives the scare

Chris Adcock and Gabby Adcock of mixed doubles saved Chennai Smashers by winning trump match to make 4-3 against Mumbai Rockets in Premier Badminton League season 3 at Siri Fort Sports Complex in Delhi on Wednesday.

While Chennai was trailing in the tie 5 against Mumbai Rockets with 2-3, the Adcock couple saved the team in the last game of the last match and the match was bombastic to watch.

After winning the first game with 15-9 against MR Arjun and Gabriela Stoeva of mixed doubles, the match went down to the wire in the decider after Rockets pair saved the second game with 13-15. Chris and Gabby overcame the hindrance they experienced in the second game and got better of Arjun and Gabriela with 15-9.

Earlier, Mumbai Rockets outclassed Smashers in the first match of the tie; men’s doubles pair, Lee Yong Dae and Tan Boon Heong eclipsed Chennai pair Lee Yang and B Sumeeth Reddy in the straight easy games with 15-9, 15-6 to add first point to their team with 1-0 lead.

Though, Mumbai Rockets opened the first game with early two points, their unforced errors passed favour to the Smashers shuttlers Yand and Sumeeth, who later failed to hold on to the lead. Mumbai, later, headed into the break with 2 points lead of 8-6. In no time, Mumbai Rockets extended their lead to 10-7 and then wrapped the game with 15-9. The second game was the easy-peasy business for the Rockets as they closed the match with the comfortable win of 15-6.

World no. 24 Brice Leverdez of France, opened Chennai’s pocket with the first win of the tie. Leverdez had the pulsating battle against Sameer Verma of Mumbai Rockets before registering the eventual victory with 15-14, 10-15, 15-14.

The first game was favoured with the Indian in the beginning on the high note but with in no time lost the stride. Forehand Smash helped him to level the score at 9-9. Later, Leverdez clinched the game with 15-14 with his deceptive shots.

Sameer clawed back in the second game with the whooping lead of 4-1 and sooner it became the close encounter before his lead by the half time with 8-7. Leverdez’s unforced error took the Indian to the 12-9 lead and then his safe win of 15-10 to draw the level.

Sameer carried on his good work as he raced to a 4-1 lead early in the decider but soon it became neck and neck contest after Leverdez's great commitment saw him taking a 8-6 lead at the mid break. Both players were winning points after the break and it was Leverdez who stood out with a 15-14 victory over the Indian opponent.

In the third match, Chennai's  PV Sindhu survived the scare in the women's singles before emerging triumphant against World No 11 Beiwen Zhang of USA and gave her team a 2-1 lead.

Trailing 1-2 in the match, Mumbai Rocket’s World No 5 Son Wan Ho of Korea added two points to the team’s pocket by his trump win against Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Smashers. Son registered the comfortable win over the Thailand shuttler with 15-11, 15-5 comfortable win and led the team with 3-2.

Results:

Men’s doubles:  Lee Yong Dae/Tan Boon Heong beat Lee Yang and B Sumeeth Reddy with 15-9, 15-6

Men’s singles: Brice Leverdez beat Sameer Verma with 15-14, 10-15, 15-14

Women’s singles: PV Sindhu beat Beiwen Zhang with 12-15, 15-7, 15-9

Men’s singles: Son Wan Ho (T) beat Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk with 15-11, 15-5

Mixed doubles: Chris Adcock/Gabby Adcock beat (T) beat  MR Arjun and Gabriela Stoeva with 15-9, 15-6