MUSCAT: Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah has equalled one of the longest standing records in world motor sport. A comfortable victory in the 23rd Oman International Rally on Saturday earned the Qatari a 60th rally win in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and meant that he drew level with the number of wins set by Dubai’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem between 1984 and 2002.
Al-Attiyah, partnered by French co-driver Matthieu Baumel and driving a Ford Fiesta RRC, eased his pace over the final six gravel special stages to record victory by the margin of 48.5 seconds. But it was a comprehensive fifth win in Oman nonetheless for the recently crowned 11-time regional champion and topped an extraordinary season where he has also won the Dakar Rally, the WRC 2 Championship and the FIA World Cup.
“I made a big gap yesterday and decided to ease my pace today to avoid taking any risks,” said Al-Attiyah. “The stages today were much rougher and one puncture could have been very costly. It’s fantastic to win here over such testing and scenic special stages. The win is certainly a milestone and what a perfect finish to the season it could be if I could go to Dubai and set a new record of 61 wins.”
Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and British navigator Marshall Clarke pushed on over the final day and managed to overhaul Abu Dhabi Racing’s Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi to take second overall and give Qatar a 1-2 finish. The result also makes Al-Kuwari the strong favorite to finish as runner-up in the championship.
“One of the targets for the season was to finish in the top two in the championship for the sake of my sponsors and supporters and we are on track to achieve that goal,” said Al-Kuwari. “It was a good day today for me with four stage wins and second place is fantastic.”
Al-Qassimi complained about suspension issues and was not able to push his Citroën DS3 RRC to the limit, but he and Ulster’s Chris Patterson rounded off the podium places. Khalid Al-Suwaidi and Giovanni Bernacchini are preparing for a full assault at next year’s ERC and MERC and they bonded well to finish fourth in their Ford Fiesta RRC.
Kuwaiti Salah Bin Eidan confirmed the Group N Championship in Oman with Slovenian co-driver Vili Oslaj. With the non-appearance of Edith Weiss and the early retirement of Meshari Al-Thafiri, it was a formality for the delighted Kuwaiti driver, who reached the finish in fifth overall, despite losing several minutes on the penultimate stage.
Emirati driver Mansoor Bel Helai headed Abu Dhabi Racing team-mate Saeed Bintowq in the two-wheel drive contest. The Citroën DS3 R3T drivers reached the finish ramp in sixth and seventh overall.
Saif Al-Harthy and Salim Al-Abri were the leading Omani duo in eighth, despite losing over 24 minutes two stages from the end. Qatar’s Rashid Al-Naimi and Italian co-driver Nicola Arena finished ninth and the second local team of Hamid Al-Qasmi and Mohammed Al-Mazroi rounded off the top 10 after losing ninth place on the penultimate stage.
2015 Oman International Rally – position after SS13 (unofficial @14.47hrs):
1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Ford Fiesta RRC 2hr 28min 00.5sec
2. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Marshall Clarke (GBR) Ford Fiesta RRC 2hr 28min 49.0sec
3. Khalid Al-Qassimi (ARE)/Chris Patterson (GBR) Citroën DS3 RRC 2hr 29min 24.6sec
4. Khalid Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta RRC 2hr 35min 07.2sec
5. Salah bin Eidan (KWT)/Vili Oslaj (SVN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 3hr 03min 21.5sec
6. Mansoor Bel Helai (ARE)/Khalid Al-Kendi (ARE) Citroën DS3 R3T 3hr 05min 48.0sec
7. Saeed Bintowq (ARE)/Allan Harryman (GBR) Citroën DS3 R3T 3hr 08min 31.8sec
8. Saif Al-Harthy (OMN)/Salim Al-Abry (OMN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 3hr 26min 12.9sec
9. Rashid Al-Naimi (QAT)/Nicola Arena (ITA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 3hr 29min 20.9sec
10. Hamid Al-Qasmi (OMN)/Mohammed Al-Mazroi (OMN) Mitsubishi Evo VIII 3hr 39min 01.0sec
2015 Middle East Rally Championship – positions after round 7 (unofficial):
1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT) 150 pts
2. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT) 84 pts
3. Khalid Al-Qassimi (ARE) 66 pts
4. Khalid Al-Suwaidi (QAT) 44 pts
5. Salah bin Eidan (KWT) 36 pts, etc
Al-Attiyah wins Oman Int’l Rally, ties Ben Sulayem MERC record
Al-Attiyah wins Oman Int’l Rally, ties Ben Sulayem MERC record
Masood defends Pakistan’s spin-spiced formula after West Indies win
- Pakistan completed the win before tea on the third day as spinners Sajid Khan grabbed 5-50 and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-27
- The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions on a dry, grassless Multan Stadium pitch, with spinners taking 34 of 40 wickets to fall
MULTAN: Skipper Shan Masood defended Pakistan’s formula of using spin-friendly pitches to win home Test matches after a 127-run victory over the West Indies in Multan on Sunday.
Pakistan completed the win before tea on the third day as spinners Sajid Khan grabbed 5-50 and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-27 to dismiss the West Indies for 123 after setting a 251-run target.
The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions on a dry and grassless Multan Stadium pitch, with spinners taking 34 of the 40 wickets to fall.
Sajid finished with nine wickets, fellow spinner Noman Ali six and the West Indian left-armer Jomel Warrican took a maiden 10-wicket haul.
Pakistan bowled just one over of pace in the match.
“If we want to be a top side in the World Test Championship then we have to sacrifice some things, like we did with the fast bowling in this Test,” Masood said.
Pakistan made drastic changes after going winless in 11 home Tests since 2021, using industrial fans and patio heaters to dry the Multan pitch against England last year.
Sajid and Noman took 39 of the 40 wickets to give Pakistan a come-from-behind 2-1 series win against England, repeating the same ploy against the West Indies.
Masood’s captain counterpart Kraigg Brathwaite had no issue with it.
They will play the second Test from January 25 at the same venue.
“They’re at home so they got their decision how they want the pitch to behave,” said Brathwaite.
“It was a difficult pitch to bat on for sure.
“We expect the same type of pitch in the second Test so we got to come better with bravery and belief.”
Left-hander Alick Athanaze hit the only half-century for the tourists in the match with 55, an innings Brathwaite wants his batters to learn from.
“He swept it on both sides so we just have to be brave,” said Brathwaite.
“We have got one more Test and we have to believe in ourselves.”
Gulf Giants end drought with commanding 6-wicket victory over Dubai Capitals
- Erasmus, Hetmyer shine as Giants chase down 166 with ease to register first win of DP World ILT20 season
DUBAI: The Gulf Giants notched up their first victory of their DP World ILT20 Season 3 campaign with a with a six-wicket triumph against the Dubai Capitals on Saturday evening.
Chasing 166, Gerhard Erasmus and Shimron Hetmyer put on a match-winning partnership of 80 runs in only 44 deliveries. Erasmus finished with an unbeaten 34-ball 50, while Hetmyer was also not out with 41 runs in just 20 balls, including four sixes.
Batting first, the Dubai Capitals lost wickets at regular intervals, restricting them to 165/7 in 20 overs. Aayan Afzal Khan and Mark Adair led the Giants’ bowling attack with two-wicket hauls each.
Adam Lyth wasted no time setting the tone for the Giants’ run chase, striking four boundaries and a six during an aggressive 32-run innings off just 17 deliveries. His knock ended in the eighth over, with Farhan Khan claiming his wicket.
Earlier, James Vince fell for 10 runs in the fourth over, handing Obed McCoy the first breakthrough. The Capitals tightened their grip shortly after when Scott Kuggeleijn dismissed Ibrahim Zadran, putting the Giants under pressure with two early blows.
Jordan Cox and Erasmus consolidated the innings with a 35-run stand. Cox was careful in his 27-run knock but perished attempting a big shot, caught by Olly Stone off Sikandar Raza’s bowling. The match was evenly poised with the Giants at 88/5 in 11.5 overs.
With Hetmyer joining Erasmus in the middle, the Giants needed 48 runs in 30 balls. Erasmus reduced the pressure with a 12-run over against Obed McCoy in the 16th. Hetmyer followed it up with an 18-run over, including two sixes off Olly stone, to further the Giants’ cause. The pair then added 14 runs in the 18th over before Hetmyer smashed a six over mid-wicket to complete the run chase in 18.1 overs.
Earlier in the evening, the Dubai Capitals had a mixed start to their innings, losing both openers in the powerplay despite aggressive intent. Shai Hope fell for 11 runs to Blessing Muzarabani, while Ben Dunk looked dangerous during his 28-run knock, which included three fours and two sixes, before being dismissed by Uzair Khan.
Aayan Afzal Khan was lethal as he struck in the eighth over, claiming Brandon McMullen’s wicket for 11 runs, leaving the Capitals in further trouble. Raza and Rovman Powell then steadied the innings with a valuable 45-run stand off 32 balls. Raza took down Tymal Mills for four consecutive boundaries in the 11th over. However, neither batter could capitalize on their starts — Raza departed for 28, courtesy of Wahidullah Zadran, while Powell’s knock of 25 was cut short by Aayan Afzal Khan as well, to leave the Capitals at 121/5 in 15.1 overs.
Gulbadin Naib added 15 runs in the death overs before falling to Adair, who struck twice in quick succession by also dismissing Kuggeleijn. Dasun Shanaka’s late blitz proved essential, as his 20-ball cameo of 33, featuring three sixes, lifted the Capitals to a respectable 165/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Player of the Match Erasmus said: “We were raring to get our first win, having lost the first few. When you know you have quality around you, you know you have a bit more time. I think teams can often get tense when you’re not getting your first win, but we came together and created positive energy and that went a long way in helping us express ourselves out there. I have special memories in this ground with the Namibian team as well.”
Dubai Capitals captain Raza said: “It was a little bit more like a Sharjah wicket I felt. The way Erasmus and Hetmyer were batting, even 170 wouldn’t have been enough. Sometimes we doze off here and there and it has cost us a couple games. In the DP World ILT20 anybody can beat anybody.”
Brief Scores
Gulf Giants beat Dubai Capitals by six wickets.
Dubai Capitals 165/7 in 20 overs (Dasun Shanaka 33 not out, Sikandar Raza 28, Ben Dunk 28, Aayan Afzal Khan 2 for 12, Mark Adair 2 for 39)
Gulf Giants 168/4 in 18.1 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 50 not out, Shimron Hetmyer 41 not out, Adam Lyth 32, Farhan Khan 1 for 14, Sikandar Raza 1 for 31)
Player of the Match: Gerhard Erasmus
Baniyas continues domination on second day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Al-Ain and Sharjah followed the leaders in second and third place respectively
ABU DHABI: Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club maintained its lead on the second day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, being held at Mubadala Arena. Al-Ain Club secured the runner-up position, while Sharjah Self-Defense Sports clinched third place.
The second day featured fierce competitions in the youth categories (U-14 and U-16), with participants showcasing high-level discipline, perseverance, and determination to achieve victory.
Maryam Abu Hadib of Baniyas Club, a white belt who claimed bronze in the 44 kg category for U-14s, shared her excitement at winning a medal.
“I am very happy to win the bronze medal at the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship,” she said. “I chose jiu-jitsu because it is a non-violent sport that improves physical fitness and self-confidence. Representing Baniyas Club and achieving this milestone motivates me to continue improving and striving for more success.”
Abu Hadib’s mother, Majda Yahya, highlighted the sport’s benefits after watching her daughter’s win.
“Jiu-jitsu is one of the best sports children can choose, as it offers benefits beyond competition. It promotes discipline, self-confidence, and commitment while enhancing physical and mental abilities,” she said.
Fahd Saud Al-Dhaheri of Al-Ain Club, who won the gold medal in the 55 kg category for U-16s, spoke about his accomplishment: “Winning the gold medal in this championship is a significant step in my sports journey. This prestigious tournament provides a professional environment that pushes young athletes like me to develop our skills and achieve our goals. It inspires us to give our best and aim higher.”
Naqi team take gold at Saudi Elite Hockey Championship
- The medals and trophy were awarded by Saudi Hockey Federation President Mohammed Al-Mandeel
- Defending champions Najd Falcons came second, with Al-Ittihad in third
RIYADH: There were celebrations on Saturday as Naqi won the second edition of the Saudi Elite Hockey Championship.
Team members received their gold medals and winners’ trophy from Saudi Hockey Federation President Mohammed Al-Mandeel at the end of the event, played over two days at the Green Halls of Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex.
Featuring 80 players from eight teams, it was attended by Ahmed Al-Jaidan, vice chairman of the SHF board, and board member Reham Al-Ajroush.
Defending champions Najd Falcons received silver medals for coming in second place, while Al-Ittihad took bronze for third.
In the individual awards, Nouman Rashid (Naqi) was named Best Player of the Tournament, with Moaid Dhoha (Al-Ittihad) as Best Goalkeeper. Top Scorer was Akbar Zaman of United Thalassery Sports Club and Best Young Player was Abdulrahman Al-Shammari (Al-Shabab).
Al-Mandeel praised the success of the event, saying it emphasized the Federation’s efforts to promote hockey and establish it as a popular competitive sport in Saudi Arabia.
Along with tournaments, the organization has established domestic and international training camps to help discover the Kingdom’s talented hockey players, many of whom shone during the championship.
Al-Mandeel also expressed his appreciation for support from the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committees.
Pakistan’s Sajid and Abrar demolish West Indies in first Test win
- Sajid Khan takes 5-50 and match figures of 9-115 to bamboozle West Indies
- Test lasted fewer than 8 sessions, with start delayed on first day by poor visibility
Multan, Pakistan: Spinner Sajid Khan took five wickets and Abrar Ahmed another four to guide Pakistan to a 127-run win on the third day of the first Test against West Indies in Multan on Sunday.
Sajid took 5-50 for match figures of 9-115, while leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed snared 4-27 as West Indies were dismissed for 123, falling well short of their victory target of 251.
Pakistan’s spinners took all the wickets in West Indies’ second innings, with Noman Ali chipping in with 1-42, as the home side took an early advantage in the two-Test series.
Left-handed batter Alick Athanaze hit 55, the only half-century of the match for the tourists, and added 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Tevin Imlach.
Sajid removed the dangerous Athanaze, while Abrar’s haul included the final wicket of Jomel Warrican.
Left-armer Warrican had led the spin attack for the tourists with a career-best 7-32 as Pakistan were bowled out for 157 in their second innings.
They were also the best figures by a West Indian bowler in Pakistan, topping fast bowler Malcolm Marshall’s 5-33 at Lahore in 1986.
The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions, with the start delayed on the first day by poor visibility.
The Multan pitch provided sharp turn, with Sajid taking the wickets of skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (12), Keacy Carty (six), Kavem Hodge (0) and Mikyle Louis (13).
Noman then trapped Justin Greaves leg before wicket for nine in the last over before lunch, leaving the tourists tottering on 54-5.
Pakistan had resumed earlier on 109-3 but managed to add just 48 runs.
Warrican’s nagging line and length earned him match figures of 10-101, his first 10-wicket match haul.
He dismissed overnight batter Saud Shakeel for two with the first ball of the day and then had Mohammad Rizwan for the same score in his next over.
Warrican continued the demolition act with the wickets of Kamran Ghulam (27), Noman (nine) and Sajid (five).
The second match starts on January 25, also in Multan.
