Saina Nehwal scripted a sensational comeback win over Canada's Michelle li to guide Awadhe Warriors to an unassailable 4-0 lead over newcomers North Eastern Warriors in the third Premier Badminton league (PBl) here on Saturday.

The lucknow-based team, who had opened their campaign with a 4-3 win over defending champion Chennai Smashers in the PBl opener at Guwahati, continued their rampaging run, winning the first three matches — including their Trump match — to beat the North Easterns here.

World No 10 Saina, who clinched her 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medal at the same venue, continued her love affair at the Siri Fort Sports Complex with a 6-15 15-13 15-13 triumph over world No 21 li, who is interestingly the reigning Commonwealth Games champion.

Earlier, Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man and Denmark's Christinna Pedersen clinched Awadhe's Trump match against North Eastern's Kim Gi Jung and Prajakta Sawant 15-14 15-13 after a hard-fought battle to put their team 2-0 ahead.

In the men's singles, Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap then came out strongly against Ajay Jayaram, notching up a 15-9 15-12 win to give a 3-0 lead to Awadhe Warriors.

Saina then sealed the issue in favour of Awadhe after surviving a mighty scare against li, who dished out a spirited game before going down narrowly.

"I couldn't play the last three weeks due to an ankle injury. I didn't have much match practice but I am happy to win. She played well. I couldn't react as I am still sluggish. I need time to get full fitness," Saina said after the match.

"I was moving well in second and third. I was not playing too well but I didn't want to give up."

Saina failed to negotiate a series of drop shots from li early on as the Canadian simply walked away with the opening game without much ado.

li showed great defence but a gritty Saina displayed her mettle as she roared back into the contest by winning the second game and consequently won the third game to seal

the match.