BENGALURU: Skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru hammer Gujarat Titans by four wickets for their third successive IPL win on Saturday.
Chasing a modest 148 for victory, Du Plessis, who hit 64, and Kohli, who made 42, laid the foundations with a stand of 92 in 35 balls as the target was achieved with 6.2 overs to spare at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Du Plessis’ departure triggered a collapse as Gujarat hit back with wickets from Joshua Little and Noor Ahmad to have the opposition in trouble at 117-6 when Kohli was dismissed.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who hit 21, and Swapnil Singh, who made 15, made sure there was no more drama as they steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 35.
“It was important we didn’t look at the scoreboard when we went out to bat and try and play the way we play,” said Du Plessis.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking, another wicket, another wicket. Probably not the best but you’re trying to be positive, get your net run-rate up.”
Bowlers set up victory after pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj removed the openers including skipper Shubman Gill early and Gujarat lost regular wickets to be bowled out for 147 in 19.3 overs.
Siraj returned figures of 2-29 to be named man of the match but the pace bowler said he nearly missed the game after being “sick since last night.”
It was Bengaluru’s fourth win and third on the bounce in 11 matches as they jumped from the bottom of the table to seventh and keep their slim play-off hopes alive.
Gujarat’s hopes are also hanging by a thread as they slumped to their seventh loss in 11 matches.
“Very important to start from zero in our next match and move on from this game,” Gill said. “Learn from mistakes and not repeat them. All about winning from here on.”
Kohli, who reclaimed the top batting spot with 542 runs, came out roaring as he hit Mohit Sharma for two sixes in the opening over of the chase and Du Plessis soon joined in and moved ahead to raise his fifty in 18 balls.
The South African veteran smashed 10 fours and three sixes in his 23-ball blitz before being dismissed by Ireland left-arm quick Little.
Little took two more wickets including Glenn Maxwell for four as Bengaluru slipped to 107-4.
Little sent back Cameron Green and then Noor’s left-arm wrist spin silenced the home crowd when he had Kohli caught behind, but the hosts had the last laugh when Singh hit the winning six.
Earlier put into bat, Gujarat went three down for 19 inside six over before big-hitter Shahrukh Khan, who top-scored with 37, stood strong in a 61-run stand with David Miller, who hit 30 off 20 balls.
Left-handed Rahul Tewatia hit a 21-ball 35 and put on another key stand with Rashid Khan to add respect to the total.
Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli help Bengaluru stay in IPL play-off race
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Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli help Bengaluru stay in IPL play-off race
Bayern coach ‘not in the mood’ for question about Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz
Wirtz has been consistently linked with a move to Bayern
MUNICH: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gave up trying to answer a question about what makes Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz special.
Ahead of the teams meeting in the Champions League on Wednesday, Kompany was asked what sets Wirtz and Bayern star Jamal Musiala apart and what they could learn from each other.
“You’ve obviously noticed I’m not in the mood to answer,” Kompany said Tuesday.
“From each other, I don’t know,” Kompany attempted at first before saying each player has to take his own path in his development.
He said it was a boon for Germany, before saying his players will need be at their best to counter Leverkusen in Munich.
Then he gave up.
“I’m talking but it’s easier to say nothing. I’m trying to be respectful, but guys, other questions!” Kompany said in the press conference before the first leg of the teams’ last 16 tie.
“It’s a good question,” he continued. “I would perhaps have asked it in your position, but still, perhaps you’d feel the same if you were sitting in my seat.”
Wirtz has been consistently linked with a move to Bayern, the speculation fueled by comments from Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeneß saying he would like to see the 21-year-old attacking midfielder play for the Bavarian powerhouse one day.
Kompany said midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović was sick and will miss the game.
Bayern haven’t beaten Leverkusen in three attempts so far this season. The teams most recently drew 0-0 in Leverkusen in the Bundesliga — a game the home team dominated from start to finish. Leverkusen previously knocked Bayern out of the German Cup, while they drew their first meeting 1-1 in Munich, where Bayern had been better.
Bayern have failed to beat Leverkusen in all six games they’ve played since their former player Xabi Alonso took over as Leverkusen coach in October 2022.
Virat Kohli leads India to Champions Trophy final with victory over Australia in Dubai
- They will face South Africa or New Zealand in the final on Sunday
DUBAI: Veteran batsman Virat Kohli rolled back the years with a polished 84 as India pulled off a tense chase to beat Australia by four wickets in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday.
Set 265 for victory, India lost the 36-year-old Kohli in the closing overs but KL Rahul’s unbeaten 42 steered the team home with 11 balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium.
They will face South Africa or New Zealand in the final on Sunday in Dubai with India playing all their matches at the venue after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan for the eight-nation event.
Lahore was the alternate venue for the final had India missed out.
Australia elected to bat and posted the highest total of 264 all out at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in this tournament after key knocks from skipper Steve Smith, who made 73, and Alex Carey, who hit 61.
In reply India lost two early wickets before Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, who made 45, put the chase back on track in their partnership of 91.
Cooper Connolly, making the team in place of injured Matthew Short who was forced out of the tournament on Monday, trapped skipper Rohit Sharma lbw on 28 for his first ODI wicket.
Kohli and Iyer then took stock against an inexperienced Australian attack missing their top fast bowlers including Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to injuries.
But the next line of bowlers stood up as leg-spinner Adam Zampa bowled Iyer before pace bowler Nathan Ellis rattled the stumps of Axar Patel for 27.
Kohli, known as a master chaser who recently hit an unbeaten 100 in India’s win over arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23, stood firm in another stand with wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul.
Kohli was dropped by Glenn Maxwell off Connolly on 51 but Zampa denied him another ton when he clubbed a googly to Ben Dwarshuis at long-on to leave India at 225-5 and Australia still hoping.
But Rahul kept calm and with Hardik Pandya, who hit three sixes in his 28, put on 34 off 31 balls to ease the pressure.
Ellis removed Pandya, another catch at long-on, but Rahul hit the winning six as a largely Indian crowd roared in delight.
Earlier, Australia lost regular wickets but kept coming back with partnerships including 50-plus stands between Smith and Labuschagne, who made 29, and then the captain and the left-handed Carey.
India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami stood out with figures of 3-48 as Australia’s innings lasted 49.3 overs. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.
Left-handed opener Travis Head gave the team a quick start with his 39 after losing his partner Connolly for a duck.
India’s victory is a reversal of their last match against Australia when they lost in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
The second semifinal is on Wednesday in Lahore.
UAE-based youngsters target more caps after making bow at youth international level
- Manchester City Football Schools’ Zakariyya Zafarullah, Zack Johnstone have represented Sri Lanka, Scotland
- Zakariyya Zafarullah: I’ve wanted to be a professional footballer since I was 3 years old and I’m still going for the dream
ABU DHABI: Two Manchester City Football Schools players in the UAE have set their sights on winning more international caps after playing for their national teams at age-group level.
Zakariyya Zafarullah, 15, and Zack Johnstone, 14, part of CFS’ Talented Player Programme, supported by e&, have represented Sri Lanka and Scotland respectively, after being spotted by scouting teams.
And, having donned the jerseys on the international stage, they are eager to add to their caps tally and are dreaming of playing for the senior teams one day.
Midfielder Zafarullah, who has three international caps for Sri Lanka Under-17s to his name, made his debut on his 15th birthday against Bhutan in a South Asian Football Federation tournament.
He told Arab News: “It was one of the best moments to wear the shirt of Sri Lanka and there was a lot of pride in representing my country … I had to adapt quickly and understand how we play as a team with new teammates.
“I’ve wanted to be a professional footballer since I was 3 years old and I’m still going for the dream. Playing for your country is one of the biggest dreams and that has come true for me. I would love to do that again.”
Left-back Johnstone has five international caps for Scotland after playing for the under-14s and under-15s, and made his debut against Canada. He received the news of his first call-up by email on the day he moved to the UAE in August 2023. He travels regularly to Scotland for training camps and matches.
He said: “At first I was nervous when I made my debut because I didn’t want to make any mistakes, but those nerves gradually went as the game progressed and I became more confident.
“It’s a great feeling to have played for my country and I’m happy to still be part of the set-up. My goal is to play for Scotland’s senior team and in the World Cup one day. That would mean everything to me.”
CFS’ TPP gives talented players additional training sessions and matches to accelerate their learning and development, with a pathway to professional clubs in the UAE and within City Football Group’s global network.
Zafarullah joined CFS in early 2023 and progressed through the development and select squads before being admitted to the TPP. He has seen his game improve in the two years of training with CFS.
He added: “They have helped me on the field to the stage where I am now more versatile, playing in different positions that I hadn’t played before.
“The coaches have been really supportive and suggest different approaches that have helped contribute to my development, while I understand the importance of a positive mindset.”
Johnstone said: “Physically I have got a lot stronger and I feel I have improved on every single aspect of my game. As we’re with the TPP, we get the extra challenge of playing an opposition that’s an age group above us. Obviously that helps us in our development of becoming better players.”
CFS has been providing opportunities for girls and boys to play football since 2012. It now boasts 10 locations across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ajman with the TPP one of five programs under its pathway structure.
Simon Hewitt, head of football operations MENA (Middle East and North Africa) for CFS, said the progress of Johnstone and Zafarullah showed that the UAE provided a strong base for producing future stars.
He said: “We are really pleased with how far Zakariyya Zafarullah and Zack Johnstone have come since joining City Football Schools.
“The pathway has been here for the last four years and has been carefully created to ensure it provides multiple opportunities for children to play and enjoy the game.
“Our methodology is the same that’s used by Manchester City Academy and the first team, so when players transition through our pathway and into the TPP it gives a great opportunity to open ways for professional clubs in the UAE and globally.
“We’re very proud to be able to deliver a comprehensive pathway here in the UAE.”
Pakistan announces probable players for AFC Asian Cup qualifying match against Syria
- Pakistan have been placed in Group E alongside Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar in the Asian Cup qualifiers
- Stephen Constantine has been reappointed as Pakistan head coach for the match against Syria on March 25
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Tuesday announced the list of probable players for the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers away match against Syria.
The development came a day after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) lifted its international suspension against the South Asian country.
FIFA hit Pakistan on Feb. 6 with a third international suspension in less than eight years after the federation rejected its electoral reforms. Following the suspension, the PFF unanimously approved FIFA’s proposed constitutional amendments in an extraordinary meeting in Lahore last Thursday.
The lifting of the suspension will enable Pakistan to take part in the AFC Asian Cup. The green shirts will kick off their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign with an away match against Syria.
“The [Pakistan-Syria] match will be played on March 25, 2025 in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia,” the PFF said in a statement.
Stephen Constantine, who previously served as the Pakistan head coach from late 2023 until mid-2024, has been reappointed as head coach for the match against Syria, according to the PFF.
The AFC Asian Cup qualifiers will be played on a home-and-away basis, with Pakistan placed in Group E alongside Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
PAKISTAN PROBABLES
Goal-Keepers: Yousuf Butt, Saqib Hanif, Abdul Basit and Adam Khan
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Haseeb Khan, Junaid Shah, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Fazal, Abdul Rehman and Waqar Ihtisam
Midfielders: Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Uzair, Ali Zafar, Muhammad Umar Hayat, Rahis Nabi, Toqeer ul Hassan, Umair Ali and Moin Ahmed
Forwards: Fareedullah, Harun Hamid, Imran Kayani, Mckeal Abdullah, Abdul Samad, Shayak Dost and Muhammad Adeel Younas
Over 400 athletes set for Ramadan jiu-jitsu tournament in Dubai
- NAS Sports Jiu-Jitsu Tournament 2025 will take place March 5-6 at Nad Al-Sheba Sports Complex
- Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran: The NAS Sports Tournament continues to solidify its position as a leading platform for supporting and developing jiu-jitsu
ABU DHABI: The NAS Sports Jiu-Jitsu Tournament 2025, as part of the 12th edition of the NAS Sports Tournament, is set to take place March 5-6 at Nad Al-Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai.
Organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, in cooperation with Dubai Sports Council, the NAS Sports Tournament has become fixture in the Ramadan sports calendar in the UAE.
The event is one of the country’s largest multi-sport events held during the holy month, featuring 11 disciplines and drawing top athletes across different age groups. This year’s jiu-jitsu competition will see over 400 men and women competing, highlighting the sport’s growing popularity in the Emirates.
Taking to the mats will be athletes from leading clubs and academies, with competitors across three divisions: teens (14–15 years), youth (16–17 years), and adults (18+).
The action kicks off on Wednesday with the teen and youth divisions, followed by the adult category the following day.
Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAEJJF, said: “The NAS Sports Tournament continues to solidify its position as a leading platform for supporting and developing jiu-jitsu by attracting athletes from various clubs and academies to compete in a distinguished competitive environment. The strong turnout for this year’s competition reflects the sport’s increasing popularity within the community, and we expect this year’s edition to be strong in every aspect.”
