Sports

Head coach Julen Lopetegui has unveiled Qatar’s 26-player squad for the upcoming training camp and international friendly against Zimbabwe, set for November 17 at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha. The match, kicking off at 7:30pm, is part of Qatar’s preparations for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2026.The new squad blends seasoned internationals with emerging talents from across the Qatar Stars League. However, several star players have been rested, including attacking duo Akram Afif and Almoez Ali. Defenders Boualem Khoukhi, Karim Boudiaf and Pedro Miguel, along with winger Edmilson Junior and midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem also among those sitting out this fixture.Lopetegui said the November camp is an opportunity to give younger players international exposure and to assess tactical options as Qatar continues building toward next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.The draw for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 has placed the home side in Group A, alongside Tunisia, the winner of the Syria–South Sudan play-off, Palestine, and Libya.Qatar squad: Ahmed Suhail, Tariq Salman, Mohammed Waad, Meshaal Barsham (GK), Mustafa Tariq (Al Sadd); Ahmed Al Janahi, Ayoub Mohammed, Mohammed Muntari (Al Gharafa); Tahseen Mohammed, Sultan Al Buraik, Hammam Al Amin, Youssef Ayman (Al Duhail); Ahmed Alaa, Jassim Jaber, Mahmoud Abu Nada (GK) (Al Rayyan); Ahmed Fathi, Al Hashemi, Al Hussein Mohammed Khaled (Al Arabi); Asim Madibo, Lucas Mendes, Nabil Irfan (Al Wakrah); Ahmed Al Rawi (Qatar SC); Khaled Ali (Al Sailiya); Khaled Mohammed (Al Ahli); Shehab Al Laithi (GK) (Al Shahaniya); and Mohammed Manaei (Al Shamal).Vale calls up 26 players for U-23 national team campPortuguese coach Elidio Vale has also announced a 26-player roster for Qatar’s U-23 national team as preparations intensify for the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia.Qatar have been drawn in Group B for the continental finals, alongside two-time champions Japan, the UAE, and Syria. The team qualified after topping their group with a perfect record of nine points from three matches, finishing ahead of India (6 points), Bahrain (3), and Brunei (0).U-23 squadMohamed Ali, Mohamed Hani, Moaz Ibrahim, Abubakr Mohamed (GK), Abdullah Mujeeb, Bassam Adel (Calahorra FC, Spain), Ahmed Al Hashemi (Alcorcón, Spain), Ali Mohammed, Nour El-Din Ibrahim, Ahmed Riad, Jassim Al Sharshani (Al Ahli), Ghanem Al Minhali, Mubarak Shanan, Amir Hassan (GK) (Al Duhail), Muath Al Wadiyya, Anas Abdel Salam, Abdel Aziz Mohammed (Al Shahaniya), Mehdi Al Muajaba, Abdul Rahman Bakri (Al Sadd), Marwan Sharif (Al Arabi), Mustafa Al Sayed (Al Rayyan), Ahmed Hajana (Al Khor), Hassan Al Gharib (Lusail), Saif Al Din Hassan (Al Gharafa), Fares Saeed (Umm Salal), and Ali Ghlais (GK) (Al Shamal).

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation and Nasser al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Premier Padel, in Astana.The meeting focused on the development of padel in Kazakhstan. The country now has a growing community of more than 1,500 active players and 16 regional federations. Seventeen modern courts are already operating, and by 2027, the new ADD Padel Arena in Almaty — featuring 10 world-class courts — will become one of Central Asia’s most advanced venues, capable of hosting Premier Padel tournaments.The Head of State expressed confidence that enhanced cooperation with the International Padel Federation will further strengthen the development and popularization of padel in Kazakhstan.

His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis MBE earned a clean sweep of race victories in storm to an emphatic victory in the Extreme class at the 44th Annual Offshore World Championship in Florida on Sunday afternoon.After dominating Wednesday’s Truman Waterfront Cup and cruising to victory in Friday’s Southernmost Continental Championship, they added a win in the Conch Republic Championship finale to the list to win the Extreme class by 43 points.The duo had taken a 22-point lead over the American Custom Marine duo of Jeff McCann and Mickael Knoblock into the finale, where double points were on offer and the pressure of making a mistake and undoing all the hard work intensified.With support from Qatar’s Ministry of Sport and Youth, Sheikh Hassan and Curtis pushed the Mercury-engined Spirit of Qatar 96 MTi catamaran hard in calm conditions in the final race and then had to ease slightly on lap five with a minor overheating issue. The duo managed their pace over the remaining four laps to win the third race in a time of 22min 53.1sec with a winning margin of 3min 14.8sec.“Three out of three,” enthused Sheikh Hassan. “First position in all the races. Weather conditions were excellent. It was very calm today and we had a good one. We had a slight overheat on lap five and had to slow down a little and then push back again. Overall, we are happy and the crew are happy with the results. After 11 years of not participating, we come in and do a clean sweep...“At the same time, I would like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sport for being the official sponsor, Simrad Navigation and to Mercury Racing for all their support on the engine back-up and set-up. Also, thanks to Extreme Marine from Dubai for supplying us the needed spare parts on site.”Ends

As a first in football tournament history, the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ Local Organising Committee (LOC) has offered a comprehensive programme to support football scouts in discovering stars of tomorrow at the premier youth competition taking place in Qatar.The programme offers football scouts a turnkey solution that includes travel, accommodation, as well as match tickets, allowing them to stay in a centralised location within walking distance from the tournament venue and be at the heart of the event. “This is an unprecedented level of service for football scouts in any tournament history.The LOC recognises the pivotal role of scouts in identifying young talents on the pitch and shaping their future. Our aim was to provide them with a tailored experience that allows them to focus solely on the game, and offer them the best conditions to scout the next talent, while we take care of all the logistical details related to their visit,” said Abdulla Al Saai, LOC Executive Director of Sports Management.More than 130 scouts from top international clubs are attending the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™, with the LOC providing dedicated services to streamline their experience at the tournament. A total of 104 matches are taking place across eight pitches of the Competition Complex in Aspire Zone, with up to eight matches a day during the ongoing group stage.The tournament’s one-of-a-kind centralised venue format has enabled scouts to attend multiple matches in a day and observe emerging talents up close from a single venue. “We are delighted to welcome scouts from all over the globe, which is reflective of the global diversity we are celebrating at the U-17 World Cup.We look forward to strengthening our relationship with them and understanding their requirements to further enrich their experience as Qatar prepares to host future editions of this prestigious tournament,” added Al Saai. This is the first FIFA World Cup™ to feature 48 teams, making it the biggest edition of the youth tournament. For Cole Bushue, Head of Academy Scouting at MLS side Chicago Fire, the tournament’s unique format has provided scouts access to a large pool of talents at a single venue. “This tournament is an important pathway for players to get into the first team. Having them all at one venue enables scouts to monitor talents easily as we look to bring them into the first team. We are able to move from pitch to pitch and observe players across multiple games, without having to commute from one venue to another.The pitches have great viewpoints, which help us in watching players closely. Our experience in Qatar has been incredible.” For Pedro Ferreirinha, a talent scout from French side AS Saint-Étienne, the tournament’s 48-team format has allowed him to observe different playing styles amongst young players and test their readiness: “We are witnessing talents from across the world. With diverse cultures and playing styles, this tournament allows us to assess how players cope in different environments.In addition to talent, it is important to assess young players’ attitude and competitive spirit on the pitch. This tournament has enabled us to watch a number of teams and matches, all at a single venue. These young players are having the opportunity to play in top-notch pitches and other sporting infrastructure in Qatar that are amongst the best in the world.”The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ is the first of five consecutive editions that Qatar will be hosting. As the first FIFA World Cup™ to feature 48 teams, this is the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time. Tickets can be purchased exclusively from www.roadtoqatar.qa. For tournament updates, follow @u17worldcupqa on all major social media platforms.

The Years of Culture initiative unveiled the next stage of its global collaboration with Formula One (F1) driver Pierre Gasly of the BWT Alpine F1 Team: a new racing helmet designed by acclaimed Brazilian illustrator and street artist Fernando Chamarelli, inspired by the legacy of the Qatar-Brazil 2014 Year of Culture.Uniting art and sport on a global stage, Gasly is debuting two new helmet designs at Grand Prix races in The Netherlands and Brazil, each created in partnership with artists inspired by the mission of Years of Culture to build dialogue and mutual understanding through cross-cultural exchange. Transforming one of F1's most visible symbols, this partnership engages fans worldwide through the creative visions of artists from diverse international backgrounds.Chamarelli explained that the falcon is the main symbolic figure, representing Qatar's strength and culture. The colours of the Brazilian flag are woven throughout the design, merging with the maroon tone of Qatar's flag to create harmony between both nations. The shapes evoke the dunes of the Qatari desert and the green of the Brazilian rainforest, symbolising the connection between nature and land. Indigenous patterns and the sun represent energy and life, culminating in a colourful composition that celebrates the union of two cultures through art and symbolism.Pierre Gasly said: "Racing is a global stage that brings people and cultures together. Partnering with Years of Culture allows me to share the creativity and stories of artists from around the world. Each helmet I wear carries a piece of that dialogue."Gasly debuted the first helmet of the series on Aug. 31 at Circuit Zandvoort in The Netherlands. Created by Dutch artist Johan Moorman, the design reinterpreted Amsterdam's iconic façades and the palettes of the Dutch and French flags, integrating Gasly's personal heritage into the motif. Since its inception in 2012, Years of Culture has built lasting bridges between Qatar and nations across the world, building understanding through creativity, dialogue, and collaboration.

The Qatar ExxonMobil Open men’s tennis tournament has won the Best ATP 500 Tournament award, according to the 2025 ATP Players’ Choice Awards.This award adds to the tournament’s impressive record, having previously won the Best ATP 250 Tournament award six times before its upgrade to the 500-point level this season.Tournament Director Karim Alami said: “We are proud to have won the Best ATP 500 Tournament award, after the Qatar ExxonMobil Open had already won the same award six times in the 250-point category.”Alami added that this achievement confirms that success is not a matter of chance, but rather the fruit of a clear vision, unwavering passion, and integrated teamwork. He emphasised that the award is a testament to the players’ own confidence, reflecting Qatar’s image as a global sports destination thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities and high-level organisation.He continued: “We dedicate this achievement to everyone who contributed to this success, including players, fans, and sponsors, especially Qatar ExxonMobil, the title sponsor, as well as the dedicated team from the various committees who consistently strive to deliver an exceptional tournament. This award serves as an incentive to continue our journey of development and innovation year after year.”This year’s tournament featured a stellar lineup of the game’s top players, including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.Andrey Rublev of Russia won the title this year after defeating Jack Draper of Great Britain, while the British duo of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspole claimed the doubles trophy.

Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Croatia and South Africa booked their places in the knockout stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 at the Aspire Zone Sunday, as Groups A, B, C and D came to a close.There remains hope for the hosts Qatar, Morocco and Tunisia, but they must wait and see if they progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Results also ensured Egypt, Venezuela, Switzerland, Korea Republic and Korea DPR will feature in the Round of 32.Despite a host of chances, hosts Qatar couldn’t break through a stubborn Bolivia backline. The result leaves the hosts’ last-32 hopes hanging by a thread, while the South Americans are out.Yazan Mohamed came close in the first half, as he tested Geronimo Govea with a fierce low drive. Captain Zaid Ktit then hit the bar in the second half, before sending a chip over Govea but just past the post. Mohamed came even closer in added time, as he powered an effort off the upright from five yards out.Italy 3-1 South AfricaSamuele Inacio hit a double as Italy beat South Africa to confirm top spot. Bafana Bafana, while beaten, have also qualified for the knockout phase, with their four points enough to seal second spot. Inacio’s slick finish opened the scoring, before Shaun Els bundled in a leveller. Antonio Arena’s header restored Italy’s advantage, before Inacio scored his second of the game and fourth of the tournament to wrap up victory.Morocco 16-0 New CaledoniaMorocco racked up the biggest victory in U-17 World Cup history to keep their hopes alive of progressing to the knockout phase. Spain’s 13-0 win over New Zealand was the previous biggest win, but the Atlas Cubs surpassed that with a relentless performance. Morocco captain Hamza Bouhaddi, said, “We’re delighted with this win and the spirit we showed today. This is our true level. We lost the first two matches, but we tried to put that behind us and we approached today’s game as if it were our first in the tournament.” New Caledonia had two players sent off during the first half, with Typhan Dreuko and Jean Canehmez given red cards.They were made to pay, with Oualid Ibn Salah, Abdelali Eddaoudi, Ziyad Baha, Nahel Haddani, Ismail El Aoud and Abdellah Ouazane all completing braces as Morocco steadfastly hunted the goals which could give them a better chance to progressing to the Round of 32. They finished behind Japan and Portugal in Group B, and will now have to wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-placed sides.Portugal 1-2 JapanJapan recovered from a disappointing draw with New Caledonia by downing Portugal to top the standings. Takeshi Wada opened the scoring with a neat touch and finish. Mateus Mide thought he’d levelled just moments later, but his long-range effort went through two Portuguese players who had strayed offside. They were then stung by a Japanese sucker-punch, as Taiga Seguchi lasered in from distance.The game flipped with just under 20 minutes to go, as Kaiji Chonan was sent off for a kick out on Stevan Manuel. Portugal quickly halved the arrears from there, with Zeega bundling home from close range. Bino Macaes’ side pressed in the final ten minutes, but Japan held on to secure victory.UAE 0-5 SenegalA Bakary Sonko treble saw Senegal sink United Arab Emirates and advance as group winners. Malick Cisse got the ball rolling with an ice-cool stuttered penalty after Saad Mubarak had wiped out Alwaly Camara. It was the Sonko show from then on. First, he nodded home from beneath the crossbar, before lashing in his second. Mame Sow then crossed for the No8 to tap in for the match ball. Victor Mendy completed the scoring when he fired into the roof of the the net from close range.Croatia 3-1 Costa RicaCroatia also secured a last-32 berth with victory over Costa Rica. The Europeans broke the deadlock when Kresimir Rados got on the end of a devilish Karlo Pajsar cross to net for a second straight match. Raul Kumar doubled the lead with a back-post header from a corner. Costa Rica quickly got back into the match with Thiago Cordero firing in a low drive from outside the box, but Tino Kusanovic nodded in late from another Pajsar cross to seal victory. A delighted Croatia coach Marijan Budimir said, “I want to congratulate my boys. They played a very good game, they controlled the game from the first moment until the end. It’s a pity we didn’t score more goals. The team are very disciplined in defence and sharp in attack. We want to go as far as possible in the tournament.”Fiji 0-7 ArgentinaArgentina continued their 100-per-cent start to Morocco 2025 with a thumping win over Fiji. Uriel Ojeda looked to give the South Americans an early lead, but his penalty was repelled by Melvin Prakash. It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as Ojeda netted, before a fine brace from Mateo Martinez. Ojeda then netted a free-kick in the second half, and side-footed home from inside the box for the match ball. Santiago Silveira and Simon Escobar tacked on two late goals to complete the scoring.Belgium 2-0 TunisiaNoah Fernandez set Belgium on their way to victory over ten-player Tunisia and a spot in the last 32. The mercurial midfielder picked up a slack pass from goalkeeper Slim Bouaskar, skipped inside and netted inside 52 seconds. Tunisia’s task was then made doubly difficult on 17 minutes as Saifedin Haj Abdallah was sent off for a high tackle. Ali Camara made the game safe in the second period with a stunning drive from the edge of the box.

Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is thrilled to announce that Algerian music legend Cheb Khaled, in collaboration with Visit Qatar, will take the stage on Saturday, 29 November 2025, for an unforgettable live performance at the Lusail Live Stage (concert area) during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025. Fans can expect a night full of the legendary rhythms of raï, combining world class live music with the excitement of Formula 1 racing. Known as the “King of Raï,” Cheb Khaled (Khaled Hadj Ibrahim) was born in Oran, Algeria in 1960. At the age of 14, he formed the Cinq Étoiles (Five Stars) band and began performing at various events. Khaled rose to international fame with his 1993 hit “Didi,” which topped charts across Arabic speaking audiences as well as in Europe and Asia. Over his career, he has sold more than 80.5mn albums worldwide, receiving numerous awards, and has become one of the best selling Arabic language artists. His music transcends borders, with performances on stages such as The Tonight Show in 1993, and highlights including the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Elle a dû quitter l’école une heure plus tôt pour un rendez-vous chez le médecin.Africa. His songs convey messages of love, tolerance, and peace, earning him fans across generations and continents. Fans attending the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix can enjoy Cheb Khaled live on Saturday night with single day Saturday tickets available starting at QR500 for General Admission. Three Day Grandstand tickets are also available but limited only to the Turn 3 Grandstand (QR1,000; student price QR800). Access to Cheb Khaled’s performance is included with all ticket types. Hospitality packages offering premium viewing experiences are also available. Tickets are selling fast for Qatar’s premier motorsport and entertainment event. Fans can secure their place by visiting tickets.lcsc.qa.

Qatar’s swimmers continued their strong form at the Islamic Solidarity Games Riyadh 2025, with Mohammed Mahmoud narrowly missing a podium finish in the men’s 200m individual medley, placing fourth in 2:05.69, just 0.62 seconds behind third. Mahmoud also finished seventh in the 100m breaststroke while teammate Ali Tamer clocked 22.72s to claim fourth in the 50m freestyle, only 0.15s off the bronze.The Al Annabi swimmers remain in action today, with Tamer contesting the 100m freestyle, Hamza Shaalan in the 200m breaststroke and Aziz al-Jilani in the 200m butterfly. Elsewhere, Qatar’s men’s table tennis team exited in the quarter-finals after a loss to Kazakhstan, while judoka Haya al-Kuwari bowed out in the repechage round of the under-70kg category.The men’s volleyball team faces hosts Saudi Arabia today before wrapping up their group stage against Bahrain on Wednesday. More than 3,000 athletes from 57 nations are competing across 23 sports in Riyadh. Qatar has sent 82 athletes participating in 16 disciplines.

Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, has announced the launch of the second edition of the Al Shaqab League, the premier showjumping competition that aims to develop young equestrian talent, refine the skills of Qatar’s riders, and strengthen the nation’s position on the international equestrian stage.The Al Shaqab League serves as a unique platform that combines sporting development with world-class competition, providing riders of all levels — from juniors and amateurs to professionals — with the opportunity to gain experience and grow within a professional and inspiring environment.Mohammed Jaber al-Khayareen, Director of the Equine Education Department, stated: “The Al Shaqab League reflects our commitment to supporting emerging riders and empowering them to achieve their dreams in the world of equestrian sport. This championship serves as a true bridge between local development and global ambition, embodying Al Shaqab’s vision of building a new generation of champions.”The League will take place at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab across four main rounds:Round 1 (powered by Dreama) – November 14–15,Round 2 – December 26–27,Round 3 – April 17–18,and the Final Round – May 21–23, 2026.In its second season, the Al Shaqab League continues to uphold the values of excellence, empowerment, and progress — from Doha to the world — embodying the spirit of equestrianism as an integral part of Qatar’s cultural and sporting identity.

Football Legend Mikaël Silvestre has lauded the exceptional football experience and operational excellence at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.Silvestre, a decorated former French international defender with more than 400 career appearances for Manchester United, Arsenal, Inter Milan and other elite clubs, was in Qatar to attend the historic first-ever 48-team youth tournament. "The quality of the football is quite intense. There's a lot of aggressiveness, the players are going for it. The group stage brings real pressure, and the quality is exceptional because you're watching the crème de la crème on the pitch"Yet it was the tournament’s seamless organisation that captured Silvestre's particular admiration: "From the venue to the infrastructure, especially for guests like me, the standard of organisation is fantastic. The players have everything in their favour to concentrate on football and shine on the global stage."Drawing on his experience witnessing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Silvestre reflected on how Qatar's hosting capabilities have proven consistent: "During the World Cup in 2022, we were able to watch multiple games at different venues in a single day. The commute between stadiums, the quality of the pitches, the infrastructure, everything was seamless. When the U-17 World Cup was awarded to Qatar, I was genuinely pleased. For me, it's a win-win for everyone."The tournament, hosted across eight state-of-the-art pitches at the Competition Complex in Aspire Zone, underscores Qatar's ongoing commitment to youth development and its growing legacy as a premier international sports destination.As the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, this is the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time.A total of 104 matches will be contested, culminating in the Final on 27 November at Khalifa International Stadium. This marks the first of five consecutive youth tournaments that Qatar will host through 2029.

Toyota’s Juan Cruz Yacopini and Dani Oliveras emerged victorious from a gruelling Qatar International Baja for the first time yesterday. The win was also sufficient for the Argentine and his Spanish navigator to confirm overall victory in the Ultimate category in the FIA World Baja Cup. The X-raid Mini JCW Team duo of Denis Krotov and Konstantin Zhiltsov began the final day with a lead of 2min 42.4sec but came under pressure from both the FIA World Baja Cup leader Yacopini and Czech veteran Martin Prokop over the last stage. Yacopini and his Spanish navigator Dani Oliveras went on a charge as the stage progressed. The Toyota Hilux crew grabbed the virtual rally lead before the final run through the dunes and sealed victory over Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka after Krotov suffered a broken front differential and then stopped completely and retired on the final push through the southern desert. Yacopini said: “I’m super happy to finish this race. Today’s stage was super tough for us. Yesterday, there was a gap between us and the first car and we knew we had to push really hard. Since the first kilometre we did our best and then we had to manage the race in the dunes at the end. Now we have won the category in the World Cup. We have worked hard for this all year.” Runner-up Prokop added: “It was a very good test. It was very difficult for navigation and driving this new car for me. It was a great two days and two enjoyable stages. We didn’t win but it was close. We slowed down towards the end behind Krotov and thought that was enough. But Yacopini was full gas and he passed us and he won. He did a very good job. Second position, but it was great fun to drive this car in these conditions. Denis was going very slow and we left him there. He had been fast the whole day.” Polish rider Konrad Dabrowski led the motorcycle standings from start-to-finish on his KTM 450 Rally to seal a third victory at the event in four years (2022, 2023 and 2025). He showed an impeccable ability to manage his pace and navigate from the front on the way to a deserved win by 31min 17.0sec. Saudi driver Dania Akeel teamed up with Frenchman Sebastien Delaunay and gave her FIA Middle East Baja Cup title ambitions a major boost by finishing third overall and first in the regional Baja. She also confirmed the Ultimate title with a round to spare. Akeel said: “Really happy for the podium. This is a good place to train for your driving skills. Today was nice but I lost quite a bit of time in the last 70km. I definitely need to work on that. Sébastien was great. It was tough with the navigation. We have a good chance of a shot at the Middle East Cup now in Dubai.” Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah enjoyed a solid stage with Fabian Lurquin in a Taurus T3 Max to finish fourth overall and win the Challenger category. A vital fifth place and points for second in the FIA World Baja Cup for Miroslav Zapletal guarantees that the final places on the Drivers’ Championship podium will be decided at the final round in Dubai in two weeks’ time. The Qatari duo of Nouef al-Sowaidi and Khalifa Saleh al-Attiyah were both registered for the regional Baja Cup in their QMMF Taurus T3s and finished sixth and 11th overall and second and third in the points for the FIA Middle East Baja Cup. Seventh overall for Nasser Racing Team’s Sergei Remennik enabled him to increase his lead over Emirati rival Khalid al-Jafla in the duel for Challenger honours in the FIA World Baja Cup. Lionel and Lucie Baud were eighth in the second of the X-Raid Minis and Frenchman Ronan Chabot was 10th in his Overdrive Racing Toyota. Young Qatari rookie Mohammed al-Marri delivered a stunning performance with navigator Szymon Gospodarczyk to finish ninth and top the SSV class standings in a Can-Am Maverick R. He finished well clear of Saudi’s Maha al-Hameli and Van den Brink, although Oman’s Hamed al-Wahaibi won the day’s stage. Italian Amerigo Ventura suffered rear differential issues after hitting a rock in his Yamaha YXZ 1000. A change of engine block and the resultant 20-hour penalty dropped Francesco Barreto out of the top 10 and he retired midway through the stage. There were also serious problems on the final day for the QMMF Team’s Abdulaziz al-Kuwari and Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom. Both Paul Severn and Eugenio Amos stopped in the dunes and lost chunks of time. **media[379298]** Qatar’s Abdullah al-Rabban held off Saudi rival Majed al-Thunayyan to win the Stock category for series production cross-country machines in his Nissan Patrol. Dabrowski was the class of the motorcycle field for the entire weekend. He won the Prologue, crushed his rivals on the first stage and rode in a masterly way from the front through the final stage, despite one navigational indiscretion in the dunes. The Pole said: “Really happy. Stella made me work for it today in the dunes. The GPS device we use here caught the waypoint from 20km before and, because of that, it wasn’t calibrated to open the arrow for the next one that I was heading to. So, I had no idea where I was. I still won the stage because Alex missed some waypoints. That means I have won all nine stages that I have ever done here. Qatar seems to suit me. It has been good for my navigational skills and opening the track on both days. This is a good confidence boost ahead of Dakar.” British rider Alex McInnes shadowed and caught the Pole and then got lost near the end of the final stage. Missing vital waypoints cost the Husqvarna stage success and second place. He dropped back to seventh. McInnes said: “I missed some waypoints at the end. I threw it away. The GPS picked up a waypoint in advance and I couldn’t go back. That’s where I lost the time.” MX Ride Dubai’s Mohammed al-Balooshi took another giant step towards a fourth FIM Bajas World Cup title with the runner-up spot on the motorcycle podium. A strong run by Frenchman Jean Loup Lepan netted the KTM rider third place. Briton Makis Rees-Stavros and Germany’s Philip Horlemann rounded off the top five. Al-Balooshi’s main FIM World Bajas Cup title rival Rafic Eid finished 12th. Emirati Abdulaziz al-Ahli held off Saudi racer Hani al-Noumesi to win the quad category. Abdulaziz al-Atawi wasn’t classified and Qatar’s Yaghoob Azadi retired with mechanical issues on the last stage. Al-Noumesi won the FIM quad title for the second successive season. The FIA and FIM series both reach a conclusion in Dubai on November 20th-23rd. **media[379297]** Qatar International Baja results Cars (top 10 only) 1. Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Dani Oliveras (ESP) Toyota Hilux IMT Evo; 4hr 50min 30.6sec* 2. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Viktor Chytka (CZE) Ford Raptor; 4hr 53min 02.6sec 3. Dania Akeel (KSA)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux; 5hr 07min 14.0sec+ 4. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL) Taurus T3 Max; 5hr 12min 59.3sec 5. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo; 5hr 31min 30.4sec* 6. Nouef Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Aisvydas Paliukenas (LTU) Taurus T3 Max; 5hr 33min 36.7sec+ 7. Sergei Remennik (UAE)/Aleksei Ignatov (KGZ) Taurus T3 Max; 5hr 42min 02.7sec* 8. Lionel Baud (FRA)/Lucie Baud (FRA) Mini John Cooper Works Rally 3.0D; 5hr 42min 18.1sec 9. Mohammed Al-Marri (QAT)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Can-Am Maverick R; 5hr 43min 49.0sec 10. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Toyota Hilux; 5hr 44min 29.8sec *denotes registered for the FIA World Baja Cup + denotes registered for the FIA Middle East Baja Cup Bikes (Top 20 only) 1. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) KTM 450 Rally; 6hr 37min 11.7sec 2. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 RR; 7hr 08min 28.7sec 3. Jean Loup Lepan (FRA) KTM 450 Rally; 7hr 18min 30.8sec 4. Makis Rees-Stavros (GBR) KTM EXC 450; 7hr 18min 56.2sec 5. Philip Horlemann (GER) KTM Rally Replica 450; 7hr 24min 10.5sec 6. Michael Anderson (POR) KTM Rally Replica; 7hr 35min 19.6sec 7. Alex McInnes (GBR) Husqvarna Rally Replica; 7hr 42min 47.5sec 8. Harith Noah (IND) Sherco 450 SEF; 7hr 43min 43.4sec 9. Peter Solnor (NOR) Kove Rally 450 EX; 7hr 56min 14.2sec 10. Hans Christian Dovland (NOR) Husqvarna FR450; 7hr 57min 01.8sec 11. Simon Marcic (SLO) Kove Rally EX; 8hr 03min 40.4sec 12. Rafic Eid (LBN) KTM 450 Rally; 8hr 06min 07.1sec 13. Justin Gerlach (GER) KTM 450 FR Replica; 8hr 17min 31.6sec 14. Andrew Houlihan (AUS) Husqvarna FR450 Rally; 8hr 40min 24.4sec 15. Thomas Childs (GBR) KTM 450 Rally; 8hr 42min 44.5sec 16. Badr Al-Hamdan (KSA) Kove EX 450; 8hr 54min 28.2sec 17. Emanuele Gallone (ITA) Husqvarna FE450; 8hr 56min 25.9sec 18. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) Yamaha WR 450F; 9hr 04min 13.9sec 19. Marcin Talaga (POL) GasGas RX 450F Rally Replica; 9hr 06min 41.2sec 20. Mohammed Al-Kubaisi (QAT) KTM EXC-F 350; 9hr 08min 57.4sec Quads 1. Abdulaziz Ahli (UAE) Yamaha Raptor 700R; 8hr 04min 21.1sec 2. Hani Al-Noumesi (KSA) Yamaha Raptor; 9hr 42min 40.9sec Abdulaziz Al-Atawi (KSA) Yamaha Raptor 700; Retired Yaghoob Azadi (QAT) Yamaha Raptor 700R; Retired

Saim Ayub hit a half century and spinner Abrar Ahmed took four wickets as Pakistan beat South Africa by seven wickets in the third one-day international Saturday, taking the series 2-1. Left-handed opener Ayub smashed 11 boundaries and a six in his 70-ball 77 to steer Pakistan to a 144-run chase in 25.1 overs after Abrar’s 4-27 had routed South Africa for 143 in 37.5 overs. Ayub added 65 runs for the second wicket with Babar Azam (27) after Nandre Burger dismissed opener Fakhar Zaman for nought with the second ball of the innings. Azam fell run out, much to the disappointment of a packed 16,000 Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, having now gone 32 innings without an ODI hundred. Ayub fell to spinner Bjorn Fortuin before Mohammad Rizwan, 32 not out, and Salman Agha, five not out, completed the chase. The ODI series win is Pakistan’s first against South Africa at home, having lost 3-2 twice in 2003 and 2007. Pakistan won the first match by two wickets and South Africa took the second by eight wickets, also in Faisalabad. Victorious skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi said: “It’s a complete team effort and a reward for hard work.” Shaheen, captaining Pakistan for the first time in ODIs, added: “This win will give us confidence for the coming matches.” Visiting skipper Matthew Breetzke praised Abrar. “We wanted a total of 250-plus but Abrar bowled very well and we lost too many wickets,” said Breetzke, standing in for injured skipper Temba Bavuma. Earlier in the series decider, Abrar combined with Salman Agha (2-18) and pacer Shaheen (2-18) routed South Africa who won the toss and batted, but only four batters crossed double figures. Quinton de Kock followed his hundred in the second match with a top score of 53 off 70 balls with a six and six boundaries while Lhuan-dre Pretorius knocked a 45-ball 39 with a six and four boundaries. When on 44, De Kock completed 7,000 runs in 158th innings, the second fastest to the milestone behind countryman Hashim Amla in 150 innings. De Kock, 32, is the fifth South African to score 7,000 or more ODI runs behind Jacques Kallis (11,550), AB de Villiers (9427), Amla (8113) and Herschelle Gibbs (8094). De Kock and Pretorius set the platform with a 72-run opening stand before the spinners hit back for Pakistan as the visitors lost their nine wickets for 56 runs. Agha dismissed Pretorius and Tony de Zorzi for two in the space of 15 runs before left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz ended all hopes of a big total with the wicket of De Kock in the 25th over. Leg-spinner Abrar jolted the innings by dismissing Rubin Hermann (one), Donovan Ferreira (seven) and Corbin Bosch (nought) in successive overs. He then ended Breetzke’s resistance-filled 16 to improve on his previous best of 4-33 which came against Zimbabwe in Harare last year. Shaheen had Nqabayomzi Peter (16) and Lungi Ngidi (nought) to wrap up the innings in the 38th over. BRIEF SCORESPakistan 144 for 3 (Ayub 77, Rizwan 32*, Burger 1-29) beat South Africa 143 (De Kock 53, Abrar 4-27, Afridi 2-18, Agha 2-18) by seven wickets

Robert Firmino registered a hat-trick as Al Sadd humbled Umm Salal 8-3 in the Qatar Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium. The defending champions led 3-2 at half time.Firmino scored in the 24th, 65th and 70th minutes of the match while Akram Afif (28th minute), Rafa Mujica (43rd minute), Giovani Henrique (48th minute), Claudinho (73rd minute), and Agustin Silvera (80th minute) contributed a goal each.For Umm Salal, Edidiong Essien (31st minute), Jean Evrard Kouassi (45+5 minute), and Sayed Hassan Issa (90+3 minute) were on target. The mercurial Afif besides scoring one goal was also instrumental in initiating two other strikes, and provided assists in two more.Veteran Hassan al-Haydos made an assist for Firmino to complete his hat-trick. The big margin win was Al Sadd’s fourth of the league and took their tally to 14 points to prop them two places up into 5th while Umm Salal remain 11th with six points after a seventh loss.Al Sailiya rally to hold Duhail 2-2Al Duhail threw away a two-goal lead and were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Sailiya at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. The Red Knights were in cruise control in the first half with two superb goals, a stunning opener from Krzysztof Piątek in the 38th minute and another great goal by Edmilson Junior in the 43rd minute, before Al Sailiya turned the situation around in the second half through Khaled Ali who secured the equalizer within three minutes (58th minute) and (61st minute).Al Duhail, who advanced to 12 points to be 7th in standings, were guilty of several missed opportunities, while Al Sailiya, who have been suffering from inconsistent performances, count themselves lucky to have escaped with a point that moved them to 7 points and 10th place in the standings.

The drama and excitement continued at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 Saturday as several nations booked their spots in the knockout rounds, while others kept their dreams alive with hard-fought results. At the Aspire Zone, USA, Austria and Ireland confirmed qualification with comeback wins, while Burkina Faso edged Czech Republic in a thriller, and Uganda celebrated a historic first-ever point at a FIFA tournament. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia stunned New Zealand, France and Canada shared the spoils, and Paraguay outlasted Panama in a tense encounter. Czech Republic 1-2 Burkina Faso Mohamed Zongo was the architect of Burkina Faso’s vital victory, opening the scoring with a stunning long-range strike after his side won the ball thanks to a high press. Czechia levelled almost immediately as Adam Novak released Vit Skrkon to finish calmly, only for Zongo to then provide the corner delivery for Loukman Tapsoba to power home the winning header. USA 2-1 Tajikistan USA overcame a shock early setback to book their place in the round of 32. Tajikistan took an unexpected lead when Muhammad Nazriev exchanged passes with Mehrubon Odilzoda before producing a smart finish, but USA levelled as Nimfasha Berchimas headed home a corner. After heavy pressure, Cavan Sullivan executed a textbook Panenka penalty to complete the comeback. Paraguay 2-1 Panama Pedro Villalba played a central role as Paraguay overcame 10-man Panama. Jossimar Insturain was dismissed after receiving his second yellow for a challenge on midfielder Villalba, with the South Americans then taking the lead as a smart exchange between Carlos Franco and the No20 allowed Thiago Aranda to strike. Villalba then burst into the box to fire a low strike through Adamir Aparicio from close range, before Aldo Sanabria's late own-goal set up a tense finish. Ireland 2-1 Uzbekistan Ireland rallied from an early deficit to defeat Uzbekistan and book their spot in the Round of 32. Uzbekistan broke the deadlock when a parry from goalkeeper Alex Noonan fell right to Abubakir Shukurullaev, who volleyed in. But Ireland levelled as Grady McDonnell rose above a pair of defenders and steered a header home. After chances for both sides to start the second stanza, the Irish wrestled away the lead, with Michael Noonan thumping in a header. **media[379207]** Uganda 1-1 Chile Substitute Derick Ssozi scored Uganda’s first-ever goal at a FIFA tournament to snatch a vital point for the African nation. Chile captain Bruno Torres’ glancing header from Antonio Riquelme’s curling free-kick looked set to be the winner, until a corner deep into added time caused chaos in the box and allowed Ssozi, who had been on the pitch for a matter of seconds, to fire home. France 0-0 Canada France and Canada had to settle for a share of the spoils in their Group K outing, a result that leaves the duo in pole position to progress. France's Pierre Mounguengue came closest to breaking the deadlock in the closing moments as he jinked into the area and beat Jonathan Ransom, only to see his effort come back off the outside of the post. Mali 0-3 Austria Austria delivered an impressive team display to beat Mali and qualify for the U-17 World Cup knockout phase for the first time. They took a first-half lead through Johannes Moser’s penalty. Mali’s task was made all the more difficult when Samba Konare was sent off for a reckless challenge. Hasan Deshishku’s fine finish made it 2-0, before Nicolas Jozepovic’s stoppage-time header added some gloss to the scoreline. Saudi Arabia 3-2 New Zealand Saudi Arabia breathed fresh life into their campaign with a thrilling victory over New Zealand, who have been eliminated. Saudi Arabia took an early lead in fortunate circumstances when a New Zealand defensive clearance bounced off Abdulrahman Sufyani and looped into the net. The OFC side levelled through Matias Nunez’s deflected strike, but Sabri Dahal then raced clear to score for the Saudis. Jack Perniskie’s wonderful backheel made it 2-2, but Saudi Arabia were to have the last word, with Thari Saeed rifling in a stoppage-time winner.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Governor of Riyadh, officially opened the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games yesterday at the Janadriyah Camel Racing Track in the Saudi capital. The opening ceremony was attended by HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, First Vice-President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), alongside several presidents of Islamic National Olympic Committees. Also present were Mohammed bin Yousef al-Mana, First Vice-President of the QOC, and Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman al-Kuwari, Second Vice-President of the QOC. The ceremony featured an impressive blend of artistic and technical performances celebrating Saudi culture and shared Islamic heritage, in a festive atmosphere that balanced tradition and modernity. It also included the parade of participating nations. The Qatari flag was carried in the parade by volleyball player Mubarak al-Kuwari and fencer Zakaria al-Abdullah. The sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, which runs until November 21, features more than 3,000 athletes from 57 countries competing in 23 sports: athletics, fencing, 3x3 basketball, swimming, handball, table tennis, camel racing, volleyball, karate, Muay Thai, judo, weightlifting, futsal, wrestling, taekwondo, e-sports, wushu, boxing, equestrian show jumping, duathlon, jiu-jitsu, para-athletics, and para-powerlifting. Qatar is represented by 82 athletes competing in 16 sports: athletics, duathlon, 3x3 basketball, karate, equestrian, wrestling, volleyball, handball, taekwondo, table tennis, judo, weightlifting, camel racing, swimming, fencing, and para-athletics. Qatar enjoys a proud history in the Islamic Solidarity Games. Its medal journey began at the 2005 Makkah edition, where it won its first gold medal, followed by five medals in Palembang 2013. The Baku 2017 Games marked a significant milestone, with Qatar claiming 12 medals (two gold, three silver, and seven bronze). In Konya 2022, Qatar maintained its overall medal tally while increasing its gold count to four. In total, Qatar has earned 30 medals — eight gold, eight silver, and 14 bronze — across its participation in the Games. In competition today, Qatari judoka Fatna Boukhaous will face Mozambique’s Chinidi Tasmani in the women’s under-57 kg round of 16. Meanwhile, the men’s table tennis team — Ahmed Saadawi, Mohammed Abdulwahab, and Abdullah Abdulwahab — will meet Iran in the group stage. The Qatari volleyball team having lost both their matches, take on Chad today. In swimming, Ali Tamer will compete in the men’s 50m freestyle, Mohammed Aziz Ismail in the 50m butterfly, while Mohammed Mahmoud and Hamza al-Shaalan will race in the 100m breaststroke event.

Al Gharafa strengthened their grip at the top of the Qatar Stars League (QSL) with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Qatar SC at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium yesterday. The victory took The Cheetahs’ tally to 22 points, keeping them in first place, while Qatar SC remained third on 17 points, behind Al Shamal, who moved up to second with 18 after a 2-2 draw with Al Wakrah earlier in the day. Despite being reduced to 10 men after South Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo was sent off in the 38th minute for a reckless challenge on Joao Pedro, Al Gharafa showed character to come from behind and claim all three points. Just three minutes after the red card, Pedro put Qatar SC ahead with a spectacular overhead kick in the 41st minute, controlling the ball on his chest before firing past the goalkeeper following a free kick into the area. Al Gharafa rallied in the second half, with captain Yacine Brahimi converting a penalty in the 60th minute after Aron Gunnarsson was brought down inside the box by Presnel Kimpembe. Seydou Sane then sealed the comeback in the 90th minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the area to send the home fans into celebration. Earlier, Al Shamal held Al Wakrah to a dramatic 2-2 draw thanks to Mohammed Omar’s stunning stoppage-time equaliser. Baghdad Bounedjah had given Al Shamal the lead in first-half injury time (45+1), before Al Wakrah hit back quickly through Amine Zahzouh’s 51st-minute penalty and Ayoub Assal’s strike two minutes later. Just as The Blue Wave looked set to take all three points, Omar rescued Al Shamal in the seventh minute of added time (90+7) with a thunderous right-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner, ensuring the spoils were shared. The result lifted Al Shamal to second with 18 points, while Al Wakrah slipped to fourth on 15.

Cristiano Ronaldo said he will retire "soon" and while he admits it will be difficult to bring his glittering career to an end the 40-year-old has been planning for his post-football life for some time.The Al Nassr striker is the all-time leading goalscorer with 952 goals for club and country combined and said last month that he is targeting 1,000 goals before quitting the game."Soon," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said when he was asked when he would hang up his boots."I think I will be prepared. It will be very, very difficult," he said on Piers Morgan's Uncensored in an interview published on Tuesday."But, I have prepared my future since 25, 26, 27-years-old. I think I will be capable to support that pressure. Nothing will compare to the adrenaline you have to scoring a goal in football."But everything has a beginning and everything has an end. I'm going to have more time for myself, for my family, to raise my kids."The former Manchester United forward says he still follows their results, despite bringing an unhappy second spell at the club to an end three years ago.

Quinton de Kock hit a brilliant century and Nandre Burger grabbed four wickets as South Africa thumped Pakistan by eight wickets in their second one-day international Thursday.Playing his second ODI after reversing his 2023 decision to retire from the format, the dashing De Kock smashed an unbeaten 123 to anchor a 270-run chase with 9.5 overs in spare at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. South African victory levelled the three-match series at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first match by two wickets. The third and final match is on Saturday, all in Faisalabad.De Kock put on a solid 81 for the opening wicket with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (46), before compiling a 153-run stand for the second wicket with Tony de Zorzi, who scored an attractive 63-ball 76.The left-handed trio took the attack to Pakistan’s pace quartet, with De Kock knocking eight fours and seven sixes while Pretorius had seven boundaries and one maximum.De Kock reached his 22nd ODI hundred with a couple off a luckless Mohammad Wasim, who saw Mohammad Nawaz drop the wicketkeeper-batter on 15. De Zorzi sped up the scoring rate with three sixes and nine boundaries before he was caught off Faheem Ashraf with 36 needed. Skipper Matthew Breetzke took the winning single, making 17 not out.“I set myself high goals so I am happy to bat well today,” said De Kock. “I think Nandre set us well with early wickets and then we batted well to chase that down.”Earlier, South African fast bowler Burger registered his best ODI figures of 4-46 to keep the home team down to 269-9.The 30-year-old ripped out Pakistan’s first three wickets in his opening three overs after the hosts won the toss and batted.From 22-3, however, the hosts rebuilt the innings and half-centuries from opener Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, who added 92 for the fourth wicket, and later from Nawaz helped them to a fighting total. Burger struck with his third delivery, having opener Fakhar Zaman caught behind by De Kock for a duck.He then struck twice in his third over: crowd favourite Babar Azam was caught in the slips for 11 from the first ball and four balls later Mohammad Rizwan chopped on to his stumps for four. Ayub hit 53 off 66 balls with a six and five fours, while Agha made a more docile 69 from 106 deliveries with five boundaries as the pair revived the innings. Ayub hit his second ODI fifty before giving Corbin Bosch a return catch in the 25th over, while Agha was bowled by Bosch in the 41st.Down the order, Nawaz blasted a run-a-ball 59 with four sixes and three fours while all-rounder Faheem made 28 as Pakistan plundered 90 runs in the final 10 overs.“I think we put up a good total but did not bowl and field well,” said Shaheen. “We will come back strongly.”BRIEF SCORES: South Africa 270 for 2 (de Kock 123*, de Zorzi 76, Ashreef 1-40) beat Pakistan 269 for 9 (Agha 69, Nawaz 59, Burger 4-46) by eight wickets.

Powerful batting by Black Cap Mark Chapman carried New Zealand to a three-run victory in the second T20 against West Indies in Auckland Thursday night.Chapman blitzed 78 from just 28 balls as New Zealand made 207-5 batting first at Eden Park, but brilliant power hitting from Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell and Matthew Forde almost brought West Indies home.Forde needed a boundary from the final ball to secure at least a tie, but could only manage a single. The five-match series is level at 1-1.West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to field on the same pitch that tested the batters in Wednesday’s first match.The pitch played much the same for the majority of New Zealand’s innings as they struggled to 81-2 after 12 overs.Chapman was 12 from nine balls at the time, struggling for timing on a pitch that was two-paced and tricky when bowlers pitched short.But then the timing fell into place and Chapman scored 66 runs from his next 19 balls.He blasted seven sixes and six fours, with three of the next four overs hit for more than 20 runs.West Indies conceded 126 runs from the last eight overs of the innings, Daryl Mitchell making 28 from 14 and captain Mitchell Santner 18 from 8.Jacob Duffy then struck in the first over of the West Indies’ innings, removing Brandon King for a three-ball duck.Ish Sodhi, back in the New Zealand side in place of James Neesham, took two wickets in his first two overs, leaving West Indies on 71-3 at the halfway stage. Powell and Shepherd then put the visitors back on track, Shepherd hammering 34 from 16 balls and Powell blasting 45 from the same number of deliveries.Forde also belted 29 from 13 balls in the closing overs.Sodhi ended with 3-39 and Santner took 3-31. The third game of the five-match series is in Nelson on Sunday.