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Jess Pugh and Toby Penty pronounced themselves “in a state of shock” after the mixed doubles pair confounded the odds to shock Chris Adcock and Chloe Magee as Milton Keynes Badminton won their first match of the inaugural National Badminton League.

It was one of a handful of world-class performances on match night 2 as both matches went to the wire. Of the first four matches played in the NBL, three have now been won 3-2, while the new rules, including the double point Power Play, proved a key factor at both venues on Monday evening.

Milton Keynes Badminton beat hosts University of Nottingham Badminton in a topsy-turvy encounter 3-2, while Team Derby, who lost their opening match after holding a 2-0 lead, just held off a spirited comeback from Loughborough Sport to prevail 3-2. It was played out in front of a raucous crowd of 700.

But the performance of the night lay with Penty and Pugh, whose win came in the third match of the night at the Albert Hall Conference Centre, with the match locked at 1-1.

MK Badminton, who lost 4-1 on the opening night, found themselves 2-0 up before Adcock and Magee found their rhythm to pull one back. However, the young pair held their nerve to win the fourth 9-8.

Pugh, the 17-year-old rising star of English badminton who won the Hungarian International with regular partner Ben Lane at the weekend, and Penty were both stunned and emotional afterwards.

She said: “We are in a state of shock – they had the home advantage but we were the underdogs so we weren't expected to get even a set, so to win was amazing. I've had a great week.”

Penty, making a rare foray into the doubles arena, said: “I've never had a feeling like that even after I've won a singles match.

“Ben Lane couldn't play today so I got the call up and I was getting a lot of stick in training for playing mixed against Chris Adcock!

“We just got off to a really quick start so that helped and then the Power Play was a massive boost, at 8-7 down so that was pretty good!”

In the final rubber, captain Peter Mills and Paul Van Rietvelde kept their unbeaten start in tact as they held on to beat Robert Blair and Kristian Roebuck 3-2 in another nerve-shredder.

“I am feeling very happy after that, as we came into this match with high hopes,” said Mills. “I think we had a good team and a good chance. The mixed doubles made a big difference to the day; we weren't really expecting that so to come out with a win and a close one in the women's doubles, the pressure was on us to try and seal the deal.”

Meanwhile, Team Derby welcomed back Kate Robertshaw and Martin Campbell, who both missed the opening night defeat to Birmingham Lions due to injury.

They were also aiming to bounce back in the league after going 2-0 up against the Lions before losing all three doubles matches in a thrilling finale. But how the tables turned at Loughborough.

The visitors looked to be heading 1-0 down after the first match. However, Martin Campbell and Helena Lewcynska produced a superb comeback to beat Marcus Ellis and Jenny Wallwork in the opening mixed doubles encounter.

“We knew we were underdogs so we never felt the pressure,” said Lewcynska, the 22-year-old doubles specialist. “It was definitely a learning curve having played the opening night and we were able to control things more tonight.”

Heading into the tie-break after they took the fourth 9-8, Campbell and Lewcynska crucially still had their Power Play in hand as they stole the advantage with a crucial double point advantage on their serve before sealing an unassailable 3-0 win.

Team Derby's Karin Schnaase , Germany's number one, was in control of her match against the higher-ranked Bulgarian Linda Zetchiri.

But the match swung in the third after Zetchiri had levelled when the Bulgarian thought a winning smash had gone in. It was adjudged out, Schnaase took the game 9-8 and then blitzed through the third against a visibly tiring Zetchiri.

“We played each other at the European Championships but playing to nine is just so different,” said a delighted Schnaase afterwards.

“You have to be ready right from the beginning and I love it.”

Loughborough fought back in the third match when Sweden's Henrik Hurskainen outclassed Rajiv Ouseph, England's number one, to win 3-0 in one of the shocks of the night.

Hurskainen had only arrived in Loughborough late in the afternoon after arriving from Sao Paulo having won a challenger event.

“I was a little bit worried after a long trip, but the crowd were on my side,” he said. “I tried to put all my effort in with the shorter games.”

Chloe Birch and Lauren Smith then levelled the tie by grinding out a crucial 3-1 victory over Gail Emms & Kate Robertshaw to take Loughborough's debut NBL night into a decider.

Team Derby's resolve held firm in the final match of the night when Andy Ellis and Chris Coles, a mix of experience and youth, ran out 3-0 winners against Peter Briggs and Harley Towler to end home hopes.

University of Nottingham Badminton's match against MK Badminton will be available to watch online from 5pm on Wednesday, 5 November, at nationalbadmintonleague.co.uk.

The next NBL matches will take place on 1 December, with Birmingham Lions taking on University of Nottingham Badminton and Surrey Smashers hosting Loughborough Sport. Tickets are on sale now  here . 

Match night 2 results

Loughborough Sport 2 Team Derby 3  (Loughborough scores first)

XD: Marcus Ellis & Jenny Wallwork lost to Martin Campbell & Helena Lewcynska 2-3
WS: Linda Zetchiri lost to Karin Schnaase 1-3
MS: Henrik Hurskainen v Rajiv Ouseph 3-0
WD: Chloe Birch & Lauren Smith v Gail Emms & Kate Robertshaw 3-1
MD: Peter Briggs & Harley Towler v Chris Coles & Andy Ellis 0-3

University of Nottingham Badminton 2 MK Badminton 3 (Notts scores first)

MS: Kieran Merrilees bt Alex Lane 3-1
WD: Serena Midha & Carissa Turner v Jess Fletcher & Sophie Sankey 2-3
XD: Chris Adcock & Chloe Magee v Toby Penty & Jess Pugh 1-3
WS: Olga Konon v Liz Cann 3-0
MD: Robert Blair & Kristian Roebuck v Peter Mills & Paul Van Rietvelde 1-3