arabnews.com - Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL

Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL

HYDERABAD, India: Ishan Kishan scored 106 not out off 47 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs in their season-opening encounter in the 2025 Indian Premier League on Sunday. Kishan smacked 11 fours and six sixes in his first IPL hundred on debut for his new franchise, which notched up its second-highest total in tournament history. Travis Head scored 67 off 31 balls as the Sunrisers picked up where they left off in 2024 to reach a mammoth 286-6 in 20 overs. Hyderabad’s previous highest score was 287-3 — the highest IPL total — against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season. In the evening game, Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets with five balls remaining in a high-profile clash. Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad took 4-18 in four overs for Chennai as Mumbai was restricted to 155-9 after losing the toss. Tilak Varma top-scored with 31 off 25 balls. Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 off 45 balls, along with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s quick-fire 53 off 26, helped Chennai score 158-6 in 19.1 overs. Royals fall short despite reaching 242-6 Rajasthan Royals fought well to post 242-6 (20 overs) in reply to Hyderabad’s huge target.

Saudi national team continue preparations for crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan

SAITAMA, Japan: The Saudi Arabian national football team continued their preparations on Sunday evening ahead of their highly anticipated clash against Japan in the eighth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.

Algeria’s Nabil Anane defeats Muay Thai icon Superlek at ONE 172 in Japan

JAPAN: Algeria’s Nabil Anane picked up the biggest win of his career against Superlek Kiatmoo9 on Sunday in Japan at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang.

Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win

SINGAPORE: Richard Mansell sank a crucial birdie putt at the final hole to win a first DP World Tour title at the weather-hit Porsche Singapore Classic by a single shot on Sunday. Needing to avoid a playoff with Japan’s Keita Nakajima at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, the Englishman reached the green in two at the par-five 18th. He then rolled his eagle attempt to within six feet of the pin before holding his nerve to drain his winning putt to clinch his maiden DP World Tour title with a final-round six-under-par 66. “I wish this win had come earlier. I played so well today to get into that position and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said the 29-year-old. “So many people have supported and believed in me when I stopped doing it myself.” Victory was particularly special as Mansell had come close to winning on multiple occasions on the tour, only to fall short and struggle with self-belief. “I had quite a few close calls and didn’t get it done. Looking back, I probably should have kept doing what I was doing and it (a win) probably would have happened a lot sooner,” he said. “I tried to change and became quite good at pointing the finger at other people. I was just not enjoying this much and I got a little lost. “It took a lot of work this past six months.” Nakajima carded seven birdies for a bogey-free 65 to finish alone in second place. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and France’s Adrien Saddier ended the week tied for third. A three-day monsoon surge in Singapore forced the cancelation of the first round on Thursday, leading the tournament to be decided over 54 holes.

Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Viktor Hovland carded a 2-under par 69 on Saturday to grab a share of the 54-hole lead at the Valspar Championship, where the Norwegian is gunning for his first US PGA Tour title since 2023.

Duplantis ‘grinds’ for gold as stellar trio headline electrifying world indoors

NANJING, CHINA: Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis was the headline act as a trio of modern-day track and field greats starred on an electrifying night of action at the world indoor championships in Nanjing on Saturday.

Spain coach hails emerging talent ahead of Netherlands clash

VALENCIA: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente hailed his team’s “inexhaustible” supply of talent on Saturday, ahead of the Nations League quarter-final second leg clash against the Netherlands. Euro 2024 winners Spain fought back in the 2-2 first leg draw to stay unbeaten in their last 22 competitive games, with Bournemouth center-back Dean Huijsen making his debut as a substitute in Rotterdam on Thursday and impressing. The defender could be paired with the uncapped Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio on Sunday against the Netherlands, after Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi hurt his ankle in the first leg. “For us, many of the (breakthrough) players are not surprising, we know the quality of the raw material we have in this country,” De la Fuente told a news conference. “We can use players who have made history and who are great players today, with exceptional experience...

Haaland helps Norway start their World Cup qualifying campaign with 5-0 rout

CHISINAU: Erling Haaland helped Norway make a positive start to their World Cup qualifying campaign by scoring in a 5-0 rout at Moldova on Saturday. Norway’s third and last World Cup appearance was back in 1998, two years before Haaland was born. Now, Haaland lead a team featuring Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard that bear high expectations of reaching the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Scandinavian side are favored to win Group I, which also includes Estonia and Israel. Haaland scored Norway’s second goal against the outmatched Moldova. That took his exceptional career haul to 39 goals in 40 appearances for his country since his 2019 debut. Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson opened the scoring for Norway five minutes after kickoff in Chisinau.

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Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL

Saudi national team continue preparations for crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan

Algeria’s Nabil Anane defeats Muay Thai icon Superlek at ONE 172 in Japan

Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win

Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought

Duplantis ‘grinds’ for gold as stellar trio headline electrifying world indoors

Spain coach hails emerging talent ahead of Netherlands clash

Haaland helps Norway start their World Cup qualifying campaign with 5-0 rout