Nunez off the mark as Al-Hilal save home point against Al-Qadsiah
RIYADH: Al-Hilal had to come back twice to save a point at home with a 2-2 draw against Al-Qadsiah on Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia Sport News
Sri Lanka sprints to six-wicket win over Bangladesh for crucial Asia Cup T20 win
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: Pathum Nissanka became the quickest Sri Lankan batter to reach 2,000 T20 runs as the opener sprinted his team to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in a crucial Asia Cup match on Saturday. Nissanka perfectly manipulated the line and lengths of the Bangladeshi bowlers to score 50 off 34 balls and Sri Lanka breezed to 140-4 in a strong start to its campaign. Bangladesh, which handed Hong Kong a seven-wicket drubbing in its first Group B game, recovered from a horror start to score 139-5 after it lost both openers to fast bowler Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera’s successive wicket maidens with the new ball. Nissanka batted fluently and scored six fours and a six as he reached the 2,000-run landmark in his 68th T20 innings when he completed his half century. Kusal Perera had the previous Sri Lanka record, achieving the feat in 76 innings. Nissanka fell soon after his entertaining 95-run stand with Kamil Mishara (46 not out) had all but sealed the game, when Shoriful Islam held on to a spectacular two-handed catch at deep backward square leg. Bangladesh had to pay a heavy price of dropping Mishra on 1 when Mahedi Hassan couldn’t hold on to a two-handed catch close to the 30-meter circle at wide mid-on.
Arsenal spoil Ange return, Woltemade earns Newcastle win
LONDON: A Martin Zubimendi double took Arsenal top of the Premier League as Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest ended in a 3-0 defeat, while Nick Woltemade’s debut goal earned Newcastle’s first win of the season against Wolves on Saturday. Postecoglou made a swift return to north London after being sacked by Tottenham in June but did not enjoy a dream debut in the Forest dugout against a ruthless Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s men had two weeks over the international break to mull over losing 1-0 to title rivals Liverpool due to Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick. But the Gunners made it three wins from four games thanks to an unlikely goalscoring hero. Zubimendi scored just 10 times in 236 games for Real Sociedad and commanded a £60 million ($81 million) fee in the transfer window due to his defensive abilities and distribution from the base of the midfield. However, the Spanish international smashed home a blistering volley from outside the box to break Forest’s resistence on 32 minutes. “Unbelievable from Zubimendi,” said Arteta. “Two very difficult goals in terms of execution. He’s come into the club and you feel a real presence, a real authority with everything he does on the pitch.” It took less than 60 seconds into the second half for Viktor Gyokeres to double Arsenal’s lead from Eberechi Eze’s cross before Zubimendi headed in his second of the game. A comfortable victory achieved without William Saliba and Bukayo Saka and, for much of the match, Martin Odegaard or Declan Rice underlined the depth of quality in Arsenal’s squad as they aim to go one better after three consecutive second-placed finishes. - Instant hero Woltemade -
Barca’s Flick blasts Spain over Yamal injury issue
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lashed out at the Spanish national team on Saturday after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team’s La Liga clash against Valencia. The 18-year-old winger did not train with the Spanish champions because of a groin issue ahead of the game on Sunday, and is also a doubt to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday. Yamal played twice for Spain in 2026 World Cup qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Turkiye last week. “He will not be available — for me it’s a pity. He went to the national team with pain, he did not train, he got painkillers for playing,” Flick told a news conference Saturday. “In every match they were three goals (or more) ahead, he played 79 and 73 minutes.
Anti-Israel protests turn Spanish Vuelta cycling race into a diplomatic battleground
BARCELONA: As an alderperson in northwestern Spain, Rosana Prieto tends to the running of her tiny village and is far removed from major cities, often rocked by protests over geopolitical issues. But with one of the world’s biggest cycling races coursing through the bucolic hills nearby, she and hundreds of like-minded townspeople sensed a chance to make their small voices heard, denouncing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Palestinian flags in hand, they stood precisely where they knew the television cameras would broadcast their message to the world: the last turn before the finish line of the 15th stage, as cyclists of the Spanish Vuelta whirred past.
Canelo and Crawford appear for ceremonial weigh-in at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena
LAS VEGAS: Super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and undefeated multi-weight challenger Terence Crawford completed their weigh-in on Friday ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated bout.
Al-Ittihad maintain perfect start to SPL season with 4-2 win over Al-Fateh
RIYADH: Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad maintained their perfect start to the 2025-26 season with a 4-2 win over Al-Fateh on Friday.
Turkiye top Greece, Germany beat Finland to earn spots in EuroBasket title game
RIGA, Latvia: Turkiye are headed to the EuroBasket final for the first time in 24 years, set to face World Cup champion Germany for the gold medal.