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New Zealand clinch T20 series as hosts UAE blink in decider

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One that got away: Basil Hameed dives to catch, in vain, a shot from Will Young of New Zealand. Photos courtesy ECB

A young UAE side capitulated at the doorstep of creating history at the Dubai International Stadium when they lost a three-match series of Twenty20 Internationals 2-1 on Sunday to New Zealand. The hosts, playing a day after notching a first against a Test-playing side, lost by 32 runs to a side who also had a few youngsters but still placed higher on the experience quotient.

Saturday saw the UAE have their biggest night in white-ball cricket when New Zealand could only put up a meagre score of 142. While the Kiwis focused on their batting in the decider and showed they learnt their lessons in posting a target of 167, the UAE batsman blinked when it mattered the most in chasing what was a par score for the ground.

The top order collapsed and the blame started with the captain Muhammed Waseem himself. The in-form senior player did not take strike and a young Aryansh Sharma played out a maiden over. Waseem hit the first two balls of the second over for two boundaries; a healthy comeback. And then he needlessly charged out in pre-determined fashion and only managed to knick the next ball behind.

The urge to dominate continued even with the other batsmen, especially Vriitya Aravind and Asif Khan, the other explosive batsman in form. For three consecutive times off the experienced Kyle Jamieson, Aravind tried to pick a ball from well outside the offstump to the leg side and duly holed out to short square leg kept only for that miscue.

Asif tried to curb his attacking instincts as he milked some singles. Rookie spinner Adithya Ashok then tempted him with flighted deliveries, one of which even took a top-edge and went for a streaky boundary. And Asif Khan took the bait and sent another down the throat of Rachin Ravindra at long-on. To make matters worse Ansh Tandon was run out to a direct hit and the UAE were reeling at 53-5.

Aayan Khan and Basil Hameed then showed how it needed to be done. There were some risks taken and yet the scoreboard kept ticking despite batting not being their specialty. Aayan left for a well-crafted 42 from 36 balls with four boundaries and a six, but it was a little too late.

Earlier, the UAE bowlers got the first two wickets early enough despite New Zealand going strong at 35 after the first five overs. As Will Young and Michael Chapman tried to consolidate and slowed down in the bowlers, the UAE captain Waseem used up all four overs of Aayan Khan in one stretch while Mohamed Jawadullah and Junaid Siddique bowled with purpose in their two spells.

In the end, slow and steady New Zealand won the race in trying conditions. They head to England next and then some of the players will be on the plane to India for the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup.

Brief scores:

UAE 134-7 (Aayan Khan 42, Mitchell Santner 1-21, Ben Lister 3-35) lost to New Zealand 166-5 (Will Young 56, Mark Chapman 51, Junaid Siddique 3-26)

 

Junaid Siddique took three wickets for the UAE, but his effort went in vain. Courtesy ECB

Sports

CHESS STARS TURN COWBOYS FOR A DAY AT NORWAY CHESS GAMES 2025

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In a dramatic twist from the chessboard to the Wild West, the world’s top chess players swapped pawns for pistols, sieves, and lassos in this year’s edition of Norway Chess Games.

Held on a tournament rest day, the tradition of light-hearted competition continued in unforgettable fashion with the “Chess Cowboy Challenge”, a high-spirited showdown in Westernbyen, a Western-themed village in Ålgård, just outside Stavanger.

This year’s participants was -the star-studded lineup from Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women. Sarasadat Khademalsharieh was unfortunately not able to join, and stepping in was Ella Carlsen, wife of Magnus, proving to be quite the sharpshooter in more ways than one.

Adopting their new Western personas, the players embraced the theme wholeheartedly:

Magnus “The Lone GOAT” Carlsen
Caruana “The Sicilian Sniper”
Hikaru “The Blitz Bandit” Nakamura
Arjun “No Slip” Erigaisi
Wei “The Quiet Storm” Yi
Gukesh “The Chennai Sharpshooter” D

Vaishali “The Rising Rider” Rameshbabu
Anna “Ice Veins” Muzychuk
Humpy “The Hammer” Koneru
Lei “The Lockdown” Tingjie
Ju “No-Loss” Wenjun
Ella Carlsen (stepping in as an honorary cowgirl)

With nicknames as fierce as their over-the-board styles, the competitors were more than ready to tackle the cowboy gauntlet ahead.

The Chess Cowboy Challenge took them through a series of wild tasks. They faced the Sheriff’s memory test in a jail escape, sought enlightenment by solving the priest’s riddle in the chapel, mined for gold, and tried their hand at axe throwing beside the church. Air rifles, lasso tosses, cowboy quizzes at the pleasure house, and classic horseshoe throws added to the flavor of the day, with real horses roaming the scene for that authentic atmosphere.

Each team, made up of one male and one female player, competed across all stations as they worked their way through the village.

Final Standings:

1st place: Magnus & Ella Carlsen — crowned Chess Sheriffs

2nd place: Hikaru Nakamura & Anna Muzychuk

3rd place: Fabiano Caruana & Vaishali Rameshbabu

4th place: Gukesh D & Ju Wenjun

5th place: Wei Yi & Lei Tingjie

6th place: Arjun Erigaisi & Humpy Koneru

About Norway Chess Games

Norway Chess Games is an annual tradition held during the tournament’s rest day. It gives the world’s best players a break from intense competition and a chance to connect in creative, unexpected ways. Previous editions have included:

  • Chess Chefs– a culinary battle where players cooked for top chefs
  • Cake Decorating Challenge– full of icing, sprinkles, and strategy
  • Farmer for a Day– featuring hand-milking cows and driving tractors
  • Design Your Own Knit Sweater– where players designed patterns later hand-knitted into real sweaters as unique keepsakes

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Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli invests in Dubai-founded World Bowling League to take the sport global

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India’s cricket superstar Virat Kohli has become an investor in the World Bowling League (WBL), a Dubai-founded initiative set to reinvent bowling as a fast-paced, global spectator sport.

Kohli joins Major League Baseball (MLB) icon Mookie Betts as a high-profile partner in the WBL, which was launched by Dubai-based entrepreneur Adi K. Mishra. The league is reimagining the traditional game with a dynamic format featuring mixed-gender teams, international tournaments, and a modern media-first approach aimed at younger audiences.

With franchises expected in Dubai and other global cities, the WBL plans to host 12 to 15 tournaments annually across the United States, Europe, and Asia, as part of its ambitious five-year growth plan.

“When I discovered Virat is also a bowler, it was exciting to align with this new-age vision for the sport,” said Mishra, founder and CEO of League Sports Co.

Kohli, one of the most followed athletes in the world on social media, revealed a long-standing personal connection to the sport.

“I started bowling when I was 11 years old,” Kohli said. “It’s clear how popular the sport is, yet it remains underappreciated as a business.”

The 36-year-old’s global influence and passion for sport are expected to significantly boost the league’s visibility and credibility as it enters its debut season. The WBL aims to position bowling not just as a recreational activity but as an engaging, competitive, and commercially viable sport with global appeal.

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Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City boss says his team will come back stronger next season

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After a difficult season that saw Manchester City fall short of their lofty standards, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has assured fans the team will bounce back in 2025 with renewed hunger and ambition.

Speaking in his annual end-of-season interview, published on the club’s website, Al Mubarak acknowledged that the recently concluded campaign was below par by City’s expectations. The team, which previously captured a historic Treble in 2022/23 and a record fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2023/24, ended this season with only the Community Shield to show.

“This season is now behind us,” Al Mubarak said. “Today is a new day. We’ve already started preparing for next season – in fact, we’ve been doing that since January.”

Transfer plans in motion

With the FIFA Club World Cup in June fast approaching, Al Mubarak confirmed that City are targeting new signings this summer to strengthen Pep Guardiola’s squad.

“We will take all the good things and the not-so-good things from this season, learn from them, and come back stronger,” he said. 

“The club will do everything possible to return to the standards we know we can achieve.”

He also revealed that top-level discussions were already underway, with Director of Football Txiki Begiristain, CEO Ferran Soriano, manager Pep Guardiola, and Football Partnerships Director Hugo Viana all working closely on transfer strategy.

“I just got off the phone with Ferran. He spent the day with Txiki, Pep, and Hugo today. We finished our last game yesterday, and today we’re working. Nobody’s going on vacation yet,” he added.

Hunger in the squad

Despite the underwhelming season, the mood in the dressing room remains determined and focused. Al Mubarak attended City’s final game of the campaign, a 2-0 win at Fulham, and noted a strong sense of motivation among the players.

“Everyone I saw after the Fulham game was excited about coming back,” he said. 

“They’re hungry. Rodri is already looking for games. Erling [Haaland] didn’t want to go on vacation, he wanted to stay with the physios and prepare for next season. That’s the attitude you want.”

Al Mubarak’s confidence in the club’s future stems from this player-driven determination and the leadership’s proactive approach to the upcoming transfer window.

“We’re going to come back strong, with a lot of positivity,” he said. “And I can assure you – we will be back competing for the biggest prizes next season.”

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