After finishing on top of the table, Delhi Acers continued their rich vein of form when they took on the Chennai Smashers in the first semi-final of the Premier Badminton League at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday.
The Acers got off to a winning start from the very first match. Setting the tone, Acers won the men’s doubles tie in a convincing fashion. Backed by the crowd Acers duo, Koo Keat Kien and Tan Boon Heong notched up an easy win over Smasher’s duo Chris Adcock and Pranaav Chopra, 15-10, 15-14, to put the Acers on the front foot.
The Acers were never caught on the wrong foot as Kien and Heong smashed their way to a five-point win in the first set. The second set was a different ball game altogether as the Chennai duo if Adcock and Chopra put up a tough fight till the end, before Acers won the doubles match, winning the second set by a point.
Having started with a win, Acers singles star Ajay Jayaram put up a fine show as he outclassed Sony Dwi Kuncoro 14-15, 15-10, 15-7. With the second win the Acers led the Smashers 2-0. Jayaram came back from a set down to maintain his clean slate in the tournament. The 28-year old Bengaluru boy was cheered on by a packed stadium as he fought his way back.
Taking an early lead in the first set, Kuncoro smashed his way back to level it at 14-all before taking the set by just a point.
Jayaram served up a delight for the crowd, as he packed of Sony, who had brought an end to the Bengaluru Top Gun’s campaign the previous day. Jayaram made short work as he clinched the second set by a five-point margin and the third by a huge 8-point margin.
In the third match, Chennai finally sealed a victory, as they won the mixed doubles, making the score 2-1, with both the Trump matches yet to be played.
Smashers’ mixed doubles duo Chrish Adcock and Pia Zebadiah outclassed Acers duo Gabrielle Adcock and Koo Keat Kien 15-9, 15-14, to keep their hopes alive.
