SEF arena inauguration heralds exciting new era for Saudi esports
RIYADH: Esports in Saudi Arabia is set for an exciting new era following the official opening of the new SEF Arena.
England Sport News
Reverse swing delights IPL bowlers after lifting of saliva ban
Ahmedabad, India: The return of saliva on the ball in the Indian Premier League is helping bowlers generate reverse swing, with Gujarat Titans’ Mohammed Siraj among those reaping the benefits.
Bengaluru edge Mumbai to spoil Bumrah’s return in IPL
MUMBAI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru survived a batting blitz from Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya to win a thriller by 12 runs on Monday in the IPL and spoil Jasprit Bumrah’s return from an injury. Mumbai named Bumrah in the XI as the India bowler returned three months after he missed the final day of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney due to a back injury. Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli and skipper Rajat Patidar hit 67 and 64 to steer Bengaluru to 221-5 after being invited to bat first at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. In reply, Pandya smashed a 15-ball 42 and Tilak Varma struck 56, but five-time champions Mumbai finished on 209-9 for their fourth defeat in five matches this season. Hardik’s elder brother and Bengaluru spinner Krunal Pandya held his nerve to bowl the final over when Mumbai needed 19 runs but lost three wickets including two on the first two balls. Krunal, a left-arm spinner, returned figures of 4-45 in Bengaluru’s third win in four matches. Patidar was named player of the match, but said, “This award goes to the bowling unit. It is not easy to stop any team, especially at this ground, and the way they have done it, was incredible.” “The way the fast bowlers executed their plans was amazing.
Rippers, Marc Leishman sweep both trophies on demanding Blue Monster
MIAMI: The all-Australian Ripper GC team held a preseason training camp in January on the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral. The weather was cold, misty and windy. The 10th fairway was inaccessible. The conditions were brutal — but the payoff came Sunday at LIV Golf Miami.
Comeback man Siraj’s 4-17 helps Gujarat to hat-trick of IPL wins
HYDERABAD: Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj on Sunday said his omission from the Indian team made him ready for IPL as his 4-17 helped Gujarat Titans hammer Sunrisers Hyderabad for a third straight win. Hyderabad-born Siraj kept up his bowling form in the T20 tournament this season with nine wickets in four matches and kept down hosts Hyderabad to 152-8. Skipper Shubman Gill hit an unbeaten 61 as Gujarat, champions in their debut season in 2022, overhauled the total with 20 balls and seven wickets to spare for their third victory in four matches. It was Siraj’s second successive match-winning show after he returned 3-19 against his former team Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Wednesday. Siraj, who was dropped from the ODI Champions Trophy that India won last month, said the break made him work on his bowling. “At the start (of the break), I could not digest,” Siraj said after being named player of the match. “But then I explained to myself that I have so many things planned. It (selection for Champions Trophy) was not to be, but I concentrated on my mindset, my fitness.
Siraj’s 4-17 helps Gujarat to hat-trick of IPL wins
HYDERABAD, India: Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj returned figures of 4-17 to set up a third straight IPL win for Gujarat Titans as they hammered Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets on Sunday. Hyderabad-born Siraj kept up his bowling form in the T20 tournament this season with nine wickets in four matches and kept down hosts Hyderabad to 152-8. Skipper Shubman Gill hit an unbeaten 61 as Gujarat, champions in their debut season in 2022, overhauled the total with 20 balls to spare for their third victory in four matches. Hyderabad, who lost the IPL final to Kolkata Knight Riders last year, remain at the bottom of the 10-team table with four successive defeats from five outings. Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins struck early to dent Gujarat’s chase when he had Jos Buttler out for a duck after fellow quick Mohammed Shami had removed opener Sai Sudharsan. Gill and number four Washington Sundar, a left-hand batter who smashed 49 off 29 balls, put the chase on track in their stand of 90 after Gujarat slipped to 16-2. Shami denied Sundar his fifty with Aniket Verma taking a good catch in the deep, a decision that left the batsman and the Gujarat camp disappointed. Impact substitute Sherfane Rutherford, a West Indian left-hander, kept up the charge with a flurry of boundaries including four in a row off Abhishek’s left-arm spin to ease into the chase. Rutherford smashed 35 off 16 balls laced with six fours and one six.
No ‘killer instinct’ as Man Utd, Man City play out derby stalemate
MANCHESTER: Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his side must improve “everywhere” after a dismal derby against Manchester City ended 0-0 on Sunday. City’s hopes of Champions League qualification remain in the balance as they remain fifth in the Premier League, which should be enough to reach next season’s Champions League. However, Pep Guardiola’s men are just two points above Newcastle, who have two games in hand on City. A point leaves United languishing down in 13th, but they had the better of a game limited in chances as they missed out on a first league double over City since 2019/20. “We have so many aspects to improve. Everywhere we need to improve in every aspect: build up, transition, decisions in the final third,” said Amorim. “Every player can improve, they are here because they showed something at other clubs.
Verstappen wins in Suzuka to close contest gap on Norris
SUZUKA: Four-time world champion Max Verstappen led from pole to checkered flag to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren’s Lando Norris second.