Al-Ittihad, Al-Riyadh clash tonight in Saudi Pro League showdown

Al-Ittihad are seeking their fourth successive victory when they face their hosts Al-Riyadh in the eighth round of the Saudi Pro League, also known as the Roshn League, later tonight at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. (X/@ittihad_en)

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Updated 6 sec ago

Khaled Alarafah

October 24, 2024 18:13

Al-Ittihad, Al-Riyadh clash tonight in Saudi Pro League showdown

The 2 clubs met twice in SPL last season, Al-Ittihad winning both matches

Updated 6 sec ago

Khaled Alarafah

October 24, 2024 18:13

RIYADH: Al-Ittihad are seeking their fourth successive victory when they face their hosts Al-Riyadh in the eighth round of the Saudi Pro League, also known as the Roshn League, later tonight at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.
The two clubs met twice in the SPL last season, with Al-Ittihad winning both matches. In the first encounter they won 4-0 before winning the second match 2-0.
Al-Ittihad will be aiming to chase down the league leaders Al-Hilal and return to Jeddah with three points, while Al-Riyadh will seek to continue their good start to the season.
The match sees the return of Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti to Al-Ittihad’s squad after he suffered a foot injury against Al-Qadisiyah in the last round.
However, Fawaz Al-Saqour, Hassan Kadish, and Portuguese player Danilo Pereira are all absent through injury.
Hosts Al-Riyadh are aiming for their first-ever win against Al-Ittihad in the professional league and hope to reduce the points gap to their rivals to just two points if they secure a victory.
Al-Riyadh are currently in fourth place with 13 points from four wins, two losses, and one draw, while Al-Ittihad are second with 18 points after six wins and one defeat.

Sajid takes six as England dismissed for 267 in third Test

Updated 24 October 2024

AFP

October 24, 2024 14:58

Sajid takes six as England dismissed for 267 in third Test

Sajid Khan finishes with 6-128 as Noman Ali grabs 3-88 to skittle England on spin-friendly track
Both teams have three spinners on grassless pitch which hosts dried with fans and heaters

Updated 24 October 2024

AFP

October 24, 2024 14:58

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan took six wickets as England were all out for 267 after electing to bat on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Sajid finished with 6-128 and Noman Ali grabbed 3-88 after a rearguard 89 by Jamie Smith enabled England to get past 250 after they stuttered to 110-5 at lunch.
Smith smashed six towering sixes and five boundaries in his 119-ball knock before he was caught off a miscued slog against spinner Zahid Mahmood in the last over before tea.
After tea, Sajid removed Rehan Ahmed for nine to complete his third five-wicket haul before also dismissing Jack Leach for 16.
England lost captain Ben Stokes in the third over after the break, caught Sajid for 12 but Smith, who reached his fifty off 94 balls, and Gus Atkinson (39) added 105 for the seventh wicket.
The morning session was dominated by Sajid and Noman Ali who bowled unchanged for 42 overs.
After England won the toss and batted, Pakistan gave the new ball to Sajid and Noman who benefited from the parched pitch offering spin and low bounce from the first ball.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to 56 in a confident start but England lost Crawley (29), Ollie Pope (three) and Joe Root (five) in the space of just 24 runs.
Noman had Crawley caught off a miscued drive while Sajid removed Pope and Root leg before.
Duckett, who completed a half-century off 76 balls, was trapped leg before by Noman for 52 after hitting four boundaries and a six.
First Test triple centurion Harry Brook lasted for 14 deliveries before being bowled behind his legs by Sajid for five after he failed to connect on a sweep.
Both the teams included three spinners on a grassless pitch which the hosts dried with fans and heaters in the build-up.
Sajid and Noman shared all 20 wickets in Pakistan’s second Test win to level the series at 1-1 after England won the first by an innings, with both matches taking place in Multan.

Topics: Pakistan vs England Rawalpindi Test sajid khan

An elite club of triple centurions

Updated 24 October 2024

Jon Pike

October 24, 2024 11:52

An elite club of triple centurions

The most recent of 32 players to achieve that landmark was England’s Harry Brook against Pakistan in Multan on Oct. 10

Updated 24 October 2024

Jon Pike

October 24, 2024 11:52

For an individual to score 300 runs or more in a single innings must be regarded as the pinnacle of batting achievement. This feat of supreme technical skill, concentration and physical endurance has been achieved 32 times in Test cricket by 28 men. The most recent was Harry Brook for England against Pakistan in Multan on Oct. 10 this year.

Brook shared a partnership of 454 runs with Joe Root, one of the finest batters of his generation, now the fifth highest scoring player in Test match history. Root reached 262, the closest he has come to the magical figure.

Once a player reaches the pinnacle, is that an end in itself or are expectations heightened for future performances?

Scoring 300 is not a reliable predictor of future success — ask Brook and Root. In the second Test in Multan they scored 23 and 52, respectively. Although it was the same pitch, its condition was deteriorating, allowing Pakistan’s spinners to exert control. The result levelled the series and brought England back to ground.

The circumstances under which triple hundreds have been scored vary, as do the consequences for those who managed to do so. The distribution of the 32 scores over time is very uneven. Until 1990, it was a reasonable quiz question to ask — name the 10 players who have scored a triple hundred in Tests. All but three were either English or Australian.

The exceptions were Hanif Mohammad of Pakistan, and West Indians Garfield Sobers and Laurence Rowe. Not only was Rowe the only player to have scored a triple hundred in the 1970s, but he was also the only one to do so between 1966 and 1990. Sadly, his career was cut short by an eye condition and injury.

Prior to Sobers and Mohammad in 1958, all previous triple hundreds were scored in the 1930s. The first was in April 1930 by Andrew Sandham of England, aged 39, against the West Indies. This was Sandham’s final Test match and was also a “timeless” Test. On the eighth day, bad weather prevented any play and a draw was agreed. Three months later, Donald Bradman scored 334 against England at Leeds, only to be outscored by England’s Wally Hammond with 336 in 1934. All were eclipsed by Len Hutton’s undefeated 364 against Australia in 1938.

These players were the cream of their generation and it is no surprise that their abilities were expressed in terms of triple hundreds. Some fortune is often needed along the way. Hutton survived a fumbled stumping opportunity and was facing a below-strength fast bowling attack. Hammond gave three chances against a New Zealand bowling attack that was new to Test cricket.

There is no mention of dropped chances in Hanif’s innings of 970 minutes, the longest in Test cricket, an astonishing feat of endurance. He succeeded in saving the first Test match for Pakistan against the West Indies in 1958. In the third Test of the same series, Sobers, aged 21, was facing criticism for failing to realize his potential. Three key Pakistani bowlers suffered injuries and Sobers took full advantage on a benign pitch. It is typical of the man that his first hundred in Test cricket should be a triple.

Two other players have achieved that feat. One was Australia’s Bobby Simpson against England in 1964. Remarkably, Simpson, who had been playing Test cricket for seven years, often as an opener, had failed to score a century in that time. His triple century was also the first scored by the captain of a Test team. India’s Karun Nair was the other player to turn a first hundred into a triple. Blessed with outstanding talent, he made his debut for India against England in November 2016. In the next Test, he scored 303 from 381 deliveries faced. He played only four more Tests, his last innings against Australia in March 2017, when he scored five, after which he was sidelined. His triple hundred was no predictor of future success.

Brian Lara is the only player to have scored 400 in a Test match. This was in 2004 against England in Antigua. England led 3-0 in the four-match series and Lara’s captaincy was under threat. England’s bowling attack was weakened by injury and illness during the match and he took advantage, batting 13 hours and facing 582 deliveries. The feat was not universally applauded. Some called it a selfish act, not in the interests of his team. As it was, England were able to save the match, batting long into its second innings.

This innings by Lara was in very different circumstances to the one 10 years earlier when he scored 375 against England, also in Antigua. Although he batted for a similar length of time, he faced fewer deliveries (358). There had been an expectation for some time that Lara was the player who could surpass Sobers’ record. In the series, West Indies led 2-1 and a benign pitch provided Lara with the opportunity. When he overtook Sobers’ score of 365 the crowd erupted, flooding the field, along with assorted camera crews.

Lara’s record stood for almost 10 years, broken in October 2003 by Australia’s Matthew Hayden, who bullied a weak Zimbabwean attack and scored an unbeaten 380. Perhaps this rankled, making Lara determined to reclaim the record when the chance came six months later. In the same year, Lara also made the highest ever first-class score, an unbeaten 501 for Warwickshire against Durham.

If there are any common themes amongst the triple centurions, it is that there was sufficient time in the game for the feat to be achieved — all but two were scored in a first innings. They took advantage of the opportunity by dint of a mix of skill, good fortune, benign pitches, weakened bowling attacks and extreme physical effort. A number of players have fallen short, the saddest being Martin Crowe of New Zealand. In 1991, he edged to the wicketkeeper on 299. How that must have haunted him.

Topics: Jon Pike Cricket Column Cricket

Liverpool stay perfect in Champions League and Raphinha scores hat trick for Barcelona

Updated 24 October 2024

October 24, 2024 11:56

Liverpool stay perfect in Champions League and Raphinha scores hat trick for Barcelona

After three rounds in the revamped tournament, Liverpool and Aston Villa have a two-point lead over seven clubs including Man City and another Premier League team, Arsenal
It was Barcelona’s first win over Bayern since the 2015 Champions League semifinals
After beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the previous round, Lille won 3-1 at Atletico, who were unbeaten in their last 11 home matches

Updated 24 October 2024

October 24, 2024 11:56

LONDON: It was a great night for English clubs, and for Barcelona captain Raphinha.

Premier League leader Liverpool moved level on points with Aston Villa at the top of the Champions League standings Wednesday by extending their perfect record to three wins, and Manchester City set a new record for the most consecutive games undefeated in the history of the competition.

Liverpool edged Leipzig 1-0 with a goal from Darwin Nunez. City routed Sparta Prague 5-0 with Erling Haaland scoring twice.

Raphinha scored a hat trick as Barcelona finally beat Bayern Munich to end a series of six consecutive wins for the German team in their head-to-head meetings that included a humiliating 8-2 loss for Barca in the quarterfinals in 2020.

This time, Barcelona came out on top of an entertaining contest with a 4-1 statement win.

After three rounds in the revamped tournament, Liverpool and Aston Villa have a two-point lead over seven clubs including Man City and another Premier League team, Arsenal. The four English teams in the competition have conceded just one goal combined so far.

Raphinha on a roll

In Barcelona, the hosts opened the scoring within a minute as Raphinha was found by Fermin Lopez’s through ball, then rounded Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with ease.

Bayern leveled the score with Harry Kane’s volley, but Barcelona responded with one goal from former Bayern great Robert Lewandowski and two more from Raphinha, who was later substituted to a standing ovation.

It was Barcelona’s first win over Bayern since the 2015 Champions League semifinals. Barcelona came into the game without having scored in their four games against Bayern since an 8-2 loss in 2020. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was Bayern’s coach in that game.

“It could have been a Champions League final. Winning like this, in front of our fans, is the best,” Raphinha said. “What we are doing on the pitch answers what Barça can do in this Champions League.”

Liverpool stay perfect

Arne Slot has guided Liverpool to first place in the Premier League early in his tenure as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement and now has the team on a maximum nine points in the Champions League.

The latest win in Europe came at Leipzig, one of the clubs that Klopp will be overseeing in his new role as head of global soccer at Red Bull.

Nunez tapped in the only goal in the 27th minute from Mohamed Salah’s header back toward goal and could have earned a penalty in the 38th when he appeared to be tripped by Willi Orban.

“If we had left this place with a draw, I would have really felt we had lost something,” Slot told TNT Sports. “For the 70 previous minutes — except, maybe, for the first 10 — we dominated.”

Leipzig is the only team from the big 5 leagues to lose their three opening matches.

City improve United record

Manchester City’s new record won’t please the red half of the English city.

By beating Sparta Prague, the English champions set the record for consecutive games undefeated in the history of the competition — even stretching back before 1992 into the European Cup era. City are now on 26 matches unbeaten. Alex Ferguson’s Man United team from 2007-09 managed to stay unbeaten for 25 matches.

Phil Foden put the hosts ahead with less than three minutes gone. Haaland then scored an amazing goal off the back of his heel. John Stones made it 3-0, Haaland grabbed his second and Matheus Nunes added more luster to the emphatic win.

Lille upset Atletico

After beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the previous round, Lille won 3-1 at Atletico, who were unbeaten in their last 11 home matches in the Champions League.

The French side had just three shots on target, including a penalty kick.

Julian Alvarez put the hosts in front with an early opener before Edon Zhegrova curled in an equalizer close to the hour mark. Jonathan David then scored from the spot in the 74th minute and completed a brace in the 89th minute.

“We may not have played a great, great game, but we played the game we needed to tonight,” Lille midfielder Benjamin Andre said.

Brest frustrates Leverkusen

A superb goal from Pierre Lees-Melou helped minnows Brest to a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen as both teams remained unbeaten.

The French team played with verve throughout the second half but was unable to find the second goal.

Playing in Europe’s top competition for the first time, the newcomers faced their toughest test yet against the German champions, who had also won their first two matches in the revamped tournament.

Florian Wirtz’s low shot gave Leverkusen the lead in the 24th minute. It was his seventh goal in all competitions this season. Lees-Melou, who recently returned from a broken leg, leveled with a right-footed volley from outside the box. It was his first goal since March.

Other matches

Elsewhere, Celtic struggled but frustrated Atalanta with a 0-0 draw. Mario Pasalic hits the woodwork for the Italian team.

Looking for a third consecutive win, Benfica lost 3-1 to Feyenoord, while substitute Marcus Thuram scored in stoppage time to help Inter Milan scrape a 1-0 win at Young Boys.

Topics: Liverpool Barcelona champions league

Al-Qahtani gets another shot at redemption against Alhyasat in PFL MENA final

Updated 24 October 2024

Arab News

October 24, 2024 11:34

Al-Qahtani gets another shot at redemption against Alhyasat in PFL MENA final

Saudi fighter lost to Jordanian opponent in September’s semifinal but now gets spot in final after Islam Reda pulled out due to injury

Updated 24 October 2024

Arab News

October 24, 2024 11:34

RIYADH: When the inaugural season of the Professional Fighters League MENA kicked off, perhaps no other fighter on the roster was as heavy a favorite as Saudi superstar Abdullah “The Reaper” Al-Qahtani.

A featherweight standout who had previously impressed in the PFL’s global stage, he looked like he was well on his way to becoming PFL MENA’s inaugural 145-pound king.

Al-Qahtani kicked the year off with a TKO win over Edukondala Rao at the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions card in February, and then won his PFL MENA debut against Yazeed Hasanain to secure a spot in the semifinals.

With PFL MENA gold just two wins away, Al-Qahtani was riding a wave of confidence that was well-deserved, having been unbeaten under the PFL banner up to that point.

In the semifinal match last month, he faced off against a significantly less experienced Jordanian in Abdelrahman Alhyasat.

Fighting in front of a hometown crowd in Riyadh, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Al-Qahtani would emerge victorious. Alhyasat, however, had other plans.

In what was a tightly contested three-round affair, the up-and-comer from Jordan pulled out all the stops to grind out a decision victory and hand Al-Qahtani his first loss in the PFL, ending the Saudi’s dream of becoming the first ever PFL MENA featherweight champion — or so it seemed.

As fate would have it, Al-Qahtani finds himself back in the championship picture as the PFL has announced that he will be stepping in for featherweight finalist Islam Reda, who has been forced to pull out from the title bout due to injury.

On Nov. 29, Al-Qahtani and Alhyasat face off once again, less than three months after their initial encounter.

This time around, however, the stakes are much higher. These two 145-pound stars will not be just fighting for PFL MENA gold and glory.

For Al-Qahtani, it is a shot at redemption and a chance to prove to the world that he is indeed the best 145-pounder in the Middle East.

For Alhyasat, it is an opportunity to show that his first win over Saudi Arabia’s best was no fluke.

Topics: PFL

Final eight singles lineup confirmed for WTA Finals in Riyadh

Updated 24 October 2024

Arab News

October 24, 2024 10:37

Final eight singles lineup confirmed for WTA Finals in Riyadh

Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova secure last two singles spots
The WTA Finals will take place at King Saud University from Nov. 2-9, featuring the world’s top eight singles players and doubles pairings

Updated 24 October 2024

Arab News

October 24, 2024 10:37

RIYADH: The singles lineup for the Women’s Tennis Association Finals, set to take place at King Saud University from Nov. 2-9, has been announced.

Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova secured the last two singles spots to join an elite group of stars.

This year’s WTA Finals will see the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams compete in a round-robin format. The singles champion will lift the Billie Jean King Trophy, while the doubles champions will earn the Martina Navratilova Trophy.

Here is a first look at the eight qualifying singles players for this year’s WTA Finals Riyadh:

Aryna Sabalenka

2024 record (Win-Loss): 54-12

2024 titles: 4 (Australian Open, Cincinnati, US Open, Wuhan)

Previous WTA Finals appearances: 3

Best WTA Finals result: 2022 runner-up

Sabalenka has been a dominant force this season, starting with a victory at the Australian Open. She comes to Riyadh in strong form having taken three titles from her last four tournaments, including a Grand Slam — the US Open — and two WTA 1000s. Leading the PIF singles race, she is poised to finish as the year-end World No.1, a position she narrowly missed out on last year.

Iga Swiatek (Poland)

2024 record (Win-Loss): 54-7

2024 titles: 5 (Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros)

Previous WTA Finals appearances: 3

Best WTA Finals result: 2023 winner

Swiatek began the year in explosive form, clinching five titles that included her fourth French Open. Despite a dip in performance and a coaching change she remains a formidable contender, having previously reclaimed the No.1 ranking.

Coco Gauff (USA)

2024 record (Win-Loss): 48-15

2024 titles: 2 (Auckland, Beijing)

Previous WTA Finals appearances: 2

Best WTA Finals result: 2023 semifinals

Making her third appearance at the year-end championships, Gauff is the youngest competitor in this year’s finals. She reached the semifinals at Roland Garros and finished strong, winning 12 of her last 14 matches, including a perfect run at the China Open.

Jasmine Paolini (Italy)

2024 record (Win-Loss): 37-17

2024 titles: 1 (Dubai)

Previous WTA Finals appearances: 0 (Debut appearance)

Paolini made remarkable progress this season, climbing from a year-end ranking of No.30 to No.6. Her breakthrough came with a WTA 1000 title in Dubai, and she achieved the rare feat of reaching finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)

2024 record (Win-Loss): 41-9

2024 titles: 3 (Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, Stuttgart)

Previous WTA Finals appearances: 1

Best WTA Finals result: Went 1-2 in group play

Rybakina’s season was marked by highs and lows due to illness and injury. Despite early successes with victories in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart, her post-Wimbledon performance was limited. However, she remains a key player with notable achievements earlier in the year.

Jessica Pegula (USA)

2024 record (Win-Loss): 38-13

2024 titles: 2 (Berlin, Toronto)

Previous WTA Finals appearances: 2

Best WTA Finals result: 2023 final

Pegula’s late-summer surge included a win at the National Bank Open and finals appearances in Cincinnati and the US Open. Her impressive run secured her third consecutive WTA Finals berth.

Zheng Qinwen (China)

2024 record (Win-Loss): 37-16

2024 titles: 2 (Palermo, Olympics)

Previous WTA Finals appearances: 0 (Debut appearance)

Zheng’s Olympic gold in Paris was a career-defining moment. Her recent performances, including a strong showing at the US Open, have solidified her status as a rising star, matching her career-high ranking of No.7 as she makes her debut appearance at the WTA Finals.

Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic)

2024 record (Win-Loss): 15-12

2024 titles: 1 (Wimbledon)

WTA Finals appearances: 1

Best WTA Finals result: Went 0-3 in group play

Despite challenges with injury and illness in 2024, Krejcikova triumphed at Wimbledon, defeating four Top 15 players to claim the second major title of her career. Qualifying under a new rule for major winners finishing in the Top 20, she returns to the WTA Finals with renewed vigor.

Topics: tennis WTA Riyadh

Al-Ittihad, Al-Riyadh clash tonight in Saudi Pro League showdown

Al-Ittihad, Al-Riyadh clash tonight in Saudi Pro League showdown

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Sajid takes six as England dismissed for 267 in third Test

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An elite club of triple centurions

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Al-Ittihad, Al-Riyadh clash tonight in Saudi Pro League showdown

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