Jayaram, Ouseph win it for Delhi Aces

Home advantage seems to have done the trick for the Delhi Acers as they took an unassailable 4-0 lead over Bengaluru Top Guns in the Premier Badminton League Season 2 here on Friday.

Delhi’s England recruit Rajiv Quseph continued his brilliant run at the Siri Fort Sports Complex, coming back from a game down to stun Bengaluru’s world no. 10 K. Srikanth 4-15, 15-11, 15-9 in the third rubber of the day.

Trailing 0-3, the Top Guns banked on their top men’s singles player Srikanth to bring home the first point but the 22-year-old failed to deliver when it mattered.

Ouseph brought his experience to fore as he pushed Srikanth to commit an array of unforced errors which cost the latter dear.

Earlier, Ajay Jayaram — sporting a new hairdo — smashed his way to a 15-10, 15-12 win over Sameer Verma to give the hosts a positive start.

The power packed jumping smashes and engrossing net plays were all on display as Jayaram toyed with his junior opponent.

Verma though showed some spirit in the second game as he clawed back to 10-all after trailing 2-8 initially. However, Jayaram surged ahead with some good placements before finally sealing the issue with a jump smash.

Jayaram was happy to maintain his good rhythm, which he had picked since the final appearance at the 2015 Korea Open Super Series.

“I have played few matches against Sameer and know his style which helped me to create my strategy. I put pressure on him from the first serve and managed to continue till the last minute. I played my natural game and kept the game tight,” said the Mumbai-born shuttler.

Continuing the momentum, the Malaysian men’s doubles pair of Koo Keat Kien and Tan Boon Heong defeated Hoon Thien How and Khim Wah Lim 15-9, 15-10 to bring home two crucial points. Kii and Tan mesmerised the crowd with their counter defense en route to an easy win.

Late on Thursday, Tommy Sugiarto stunned two-time Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei to turn the tables on the Hyderabad Hunters to give the Acers their first win.

The loss was Hyderabad’s first in the season, while Delhi won after back-to-back losses.

The Acers won 4-1 after the men’s doubles pair of Koo Keat Kien and Tan Boon Heong won the hosts’ trump game, overcoming the Hunters’ K. Nandagopal and Satvik Sai 15-12, 14-15, 15-13 in the fifth rubber of the day.