The arrival of Ben Stokes at the IPL after his extended compassionate leave will give Rajasthan Royals a boost, just as their form has taken a dip.
Rajasthan had topped the league after their stunning two wins in Sharjah, but they have struggled to maintain their excellence since moving away from the UAE’s oldest venue.
They followed defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai earlier in the week with an eight-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi on Saturday afternoon.
While the fixture was going on, Stokes was en route to the UAE from Christchurch, where he has been since the middle of the summer.
The England all-rounder left the UK to spend time with his family in New Zealand. His father Ged has been diagnosed with brain cancer.
On arrival in Dubai, he will have to quarantine for six days, and should be available to join Rajasthan for the second half of the league phase of the competition.
“Our thought are with his family first and foremost,” Andrew McDonald, the Rajasthan coach, said.
“He is on a flight. He is going to join us and will definitely give us a lift because he is an incredible player.
“He will allow us to structure [the team] in different ways, because he is three-dimensional.
“We are excited to have him landing. He will obviously have to quarantine, then can hopefully come out and have an impact in the back half of the season.”
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Bangalore v Rajasthan player ratings
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Stokes’ return to the Rajasthan line up should add some firepower to the Rajasthan middle order.
The team have been run-shy in the two games since their extraordinary run-chase against Kings XI Punjab.
Steve Smith, their captain, is demanding more from the top-order batting of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and himself.
Rajasthan had been 31 for three in the fifth over against Bangalore. They struggled to 154 for six from their 20 overs, and RCB chased that with eight wickets, and five balls to spare.
“Our top three should be doing the job a lot more,” Smith said.
“In the past three games we haven’t really got going. Us three have to take it a little bit deeper, and then I think we have enough power.
“We have seen what Rahul Tewatia can do, and Jofra [Archer] and Tom Curran as well.
Our top three should be doing the job a lot more
"We bat quite deep, but our top three need to bat for a little bit longer and get ourselves into the innings.”
Devdutt Padikkal made his third half-century of the tournament so far in Bangalore’s run chase, and was thrilled to share in a stand worth 99 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli.
“I have watched him so many time since I was small,” Padikkal said of his captain.
“To bat with him is an unreal feeling and I am enjoying it thoroughly.
“He kept pushing me. I was getting tired, and kept cramping up, but he was pushing me to finish the innings.
“He told me to play to the end. That’s how he bats, and that’s what he was trying to covey to me as well.”
The 20-year-old opener’s start in the IPL has marked him out as a player with a fine future, according to Simon Katich, the Bangalore coach.
“He has been brilliant for us since the word go,” Katich said.
“He had a magnificent season for Karnataka. Once we identified that, we thought there was a role for him to play at the top of the order.
“He is a very talented young player. He has a big future in front of him, and we are seeing the start of it at this IPL.”
Kohli saw RCB over the winning line with 72 not out, and Katich expects the innings to “kick start his IPL” after some low scores so far.
“We don’t see it as Virat being out of form at all,” Katich said.
“We thought he looked magnificent in the first game, but unfortunately holed out. Then he missed out a couple of times and that can happen in T20.
“I think what helped was that he helped get us across the line in the Super Over, he played a great shot, and has carried on from there.”
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Results
5pm: Al Falah – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bshara, Richard Mullen (jockey), Salem Al Ketbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Al Dhafra – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Mualami, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Al Khaleej Al Arabi – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hawafez, Adrie de Vries, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Mafraq – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
7.30pm: Al Samha – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Patrick Cosgrave, Ismail Mohammed
Previous men's records
- 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
- 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
- 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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The five pillars of Islam
More on Quran memorisation:
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
