After a stumbling start to the T20 series in Australia, world champions India quickly dusted themselves off and took an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-game series on Thursday, and that too fairly comfortably.
India's spinners took six wickets on a sluggish Gold Coast surface to crush Australia by 48 runs in the fourth T20 after posting a decent score of 167-8. This, after the Indians had chased down a target of 187 in the third T20 with relative ease - five wickets and nine wickets in hand.
Even though Australia were missing some key players to Ashes preparations, both matches were played on challenging surfaces, which leveled the playing field.
For India, it was not the results as such that mattered. It was the manner in which they achieved it.
In both wins, India's batters did what was asked of them. And in both games, no Indian batter scored a fifty.
There were consistent contributions from all batters, which should fill the team management with confidence. Because that means India's T20 batting is not about just Abhishek Sharma.
Abhishek is the top-ranked T20 batter in the world and showcased the full range of his abilities during a victorious Asia Cup campaign in the UAE. The left-handed batter was by far the most destructive batter during the tournament and held India's batting together.
His one failure came in the final against Pakistan, in accordance with the law of averages. India were chasing 147 and in early trouble. There, another gifted left-handed batter - Tilak Varma - took the team past the finish line in an ill-tempered contest.
In the ongoing T20 series Down Under, Abhishek has tried his best to break free but Australia's potent new-ball bowlers and difficult surfaces have restricted him to one fifty in four games, with his strike rate also coming down a few notches.
That should have put a spanner in the works of India's T20 plans, especially since Abhishek is the only out-and-out attacking T20 batter in the line-up; earlier, India had the equally dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, while Sanju Samson could also match Abhishek in impact and strike rate.
But it is not the same Indian team anymore. Future all-format captain Shubman Gill has been placed at the top of the order, with everyone else adjusting around him.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav, the top ranked T20 batter not too long ago, does not seem even half the batter now and even though he seems to be getting his touch back, most bowling sides have a simple and proven way to keep him quiet - bowl traditional Test lines outside off and into his shoulder.
There was a lot more careful accumulation by India's batters in the Australia series than at any point over the last two seasons in bilateral cricket. Whether this same approach works on pitches where 240 can be chased is a different matter.
But for now, India have found a way to get everyone pulling their weight - mainly through a fluid and deep batting line-up. That takes the pressure off Abhishek to deliver every time; all-rounder Washington Sundar scored a match-winning 49 in the third T20 against the Aussies while Gill made a decent 46 at Gold Coast.
After the win in the fourth T20, captain Suryakumar said his openers Abhishek and Gill - who made 57 in seven overs - had assessed the conditions nicely. "The way Shubman and Abhishek started, they knew this was not a 200-220 wicket. They batted very smartly," he explained.
However, that does not mean India will take this same template to the T20 World Cup at home next year. The management knows they need a lot more brute power at the top for the largely flat pitches in India. Having both Gill and a misfiring Suryakumar in the XI might be a luxury the team can't afford.
But for now, India seemed to have learnt how to get the job done, irrespective of what Abhishek - their best T20 batter - does.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Afro%20salons
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Jawan
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m, Winner SS Lamea, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m, Winner AF Makerah, Sean Kirrane, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m, Winner Maaly Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,600m, Winner AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m, Winner Morjanah Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,200m, Winner Mudarrab, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
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EA Sports FC 24
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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J%20Street%20Polling%20Results
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