Team Abu Dhabi complete domestic cricket triple crown with D50 victory
Team Abu Dhabi completed their domestic cricket trophy set as they won the D50 trophy to add to their D10 and D20 titles. The Abu Dhabi side defeated Fujairah in the 50-over competition final at the Karwan Cricket Ground in Ajman. After Fujairah were bowled out for 214, Team Abu Dhabi chasing down the target in 36 overs with five wickets in hand. Captain and UAE cricket veteran Rohan Mustafa top-scored for the winners, hitting 45 from just 28 balls opening the innings. Team Abu Dhabi had earlier won the D20 title in 2023 and D10 trophy earlier this year. They became only the second team to capture all three major Emirates Cricket Board domestic titles, following Fujairah's sweep in 2024. Team Abu Dhabi were also runners-up in the 2024 D50 tournament, highlighting their dominance in the domestic scene. It was a proud moment for Team Abu Dhabi head coach Ruan Bohlmann, who praised the players' dedication. 'This triple crown didn't happen by accident. It's the product of years of planning, nurturing young players, and fostering a winning culture,' he said. 'We are proud to represent the capital with such distinction and to have contributed to a movement that goes beyond cricket – one that brings our community closer together.' A few years ago, Team Abu Dhabi were battling at the lower levels of the domestic set-up, but have now risen to the top. 'We climbed every obstacle placed in our path, showcasing incredible teamwork, patience at the crease, and an unbreakable spirit,' Bohlmann added. Matte Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub, also lauded the team for their success. 'Securing the triple crown is testament to the hard work, commitment, and resilience of everyone involved with Team Abu Dhabi,' Boucher said. 'This is not just about winning trophies; it reflects our deeper strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Sports Council to inspire community engagement through cricket. Our success highlights a true player pathway process from the Zayed Cricket Academy, for our junior players, into a vibrant domestic cricketing scene and then into a domestically successful Team Abu Dhabi on the national stage.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
15 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Salma Al Mansoori and Noura Al Ghilani steal Jiu-Jitsu spotlight at Mubadala Arena
The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship delivered another thrilling chapter at Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Arena this weekend, as the spotlight turned to the sport's rising stars in the Under-14 and Under-16 divisions. With the stands packed with passionate supporters, the competition on the mats was fierce as the event continued to build momentum, serving as a key proving ground for the UAE's next generation of champions. Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club, champions of the Mother of the Nation Jiu‑Jitsu Cup in March across women's and youth divisions, tightened its grip at the top of the leaderboard, while Al Jazira and Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Clubs were in close pursuit in second and third place. The championship, organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), which was officially established in November 2012 under the directive of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has quickly become a pivotal stage for discovering and developing young talent from across the country. More than 1,800 boys and girls are currently competing at the Mubadala Arena, making it one of the most well-attended grassroots sporting events on the national calendar. While dignitaries and guests it it was the athletes on the mats who commanded the spotlight, and none more so than the rising talents from Baniyas and Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Clubs. Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in particular extended its dominance with a wave of impressive performances, most notably by Salma Rashid Al Mansoori, who clinched gold in the fiercely contested Girls U14 -44kg grey belt division. Her victory wasn't just another medal, it was a symbol of months of demanding training and total dedication. 'This gold medal is the result of her hard work and focus,' said her proud mother, Sarah Al Mansoori, watching her daughter shine on one of the sport's biggest local stages. 'Winning in a tournament that carries such a respected name makes it more meaningful. We are also thankful to the leadership for increasing the prize money. It was a huge motivator.' Salma's win capped off a strong day for Baniyas, who continued to set the tone across divisions and looked increasingly difficult to dislodge at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Al Jazira Club's Noura Nasser Al Ghilani left a lasting impression of her own. She powered through the Girls U16 -80kg grey belt category to secure gold, showcasing both technical skill and mental toughness. 'This win means a lot to me and my team,' said Noura. 'Jiu-jitsu has given me so much: confidence, discipline, and a drive to succeed. I thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for their incredible support and promise to keep training hard to represent the UAE internationally.' These personal milestones not only reflect the level of competition at the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship but also highlight the growing depth of talent within the UAE's grassroots jiu-jitsu scene. 'Jiu-jitsu is a national and community sport in every sense,' said Dr Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri, Chancellor of Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities. 'This championship is well-organised and held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. 'The high level of organisation shows how much the sport has grown in the UAE and how well it is received by the community,' Al Dhaheri added. The championship's appeal has been further boosted by the decision to double the prize pool this year, a move welcomed by athletes and clubs alike.
Khaleej Times
18 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE's Baseball Governing Committee explores ways to promote the sport
The Baseball Governing Committee, comprising Dr Tayyab Kamali (chairman), Zayed Abbas and Mubashshir Usmani, continues to explore the sport's development and growth opportunities in the UAE. Baseball's governance was placed under the Emirates Cricket Board by the UAE government two years ago. The Baseball Governing Committee has since then actively worked on the development of the sport in the UAE especially at the grassroots level. 'The Emirates Cricket Board remains committed to the growth of baseball and will continue to create opportunities for the sport's promotion by nurturing talent, setting up baseball academies and by staging world-class events across the country. The committee has also explored partnership opportunities with various baseball entities from around the world — a series of exciting announcements will be made in due course,' said Dr Tayyab Kamali.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Ilia Topuria makes statement with quick KO of Charles Oliveira then clashes with Paddy Pimblett
Ilia Topuria continued his ascension up the pound-for-pound ladder with a major statement via a vicious first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira to win the vacant lightweight championship on Saturday night at UFC 317. Topuria used a sharp right hand to set up a devastating left hook that dropped Oliveira to end the bout at the 2:27 mark of the opening round, fulfilling his prediction of a first-round KO while sending the announced crowd of 19,800 into a frenzy. 'I always say I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts,' said Topuria. Topuria (17-0), who now has 10 first-round finishes to his credit, moved up to the 155-pound weight class following a successful campaign in the featherweight division last year. He claimed that belt with a second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski and defended his title by finishing Max Holloway in the third round of an October bout in Abu Dhabi. Topuria, who came in ranked fourth on UFC's pound-for-pound list, joined nine others who have held a UFC belt in two weight classes. He is the first undefeated fighter to become champion in two UFC divisions. 'I think tonight was his big night,' UFC CEO and president Dana White said. 'We have a star on our hands.' Oliveira (35-11), who has the most finishes in UFC history, was hoping to become the first fighter to win the lightweight belt on separate occasions. Fellow lightweight Paddy Pimblett was in the audience and was summoned to the ring, where a heated exchange led to Topuria shoving the eighth-ranked contender and igniting a rivalry from years ago. 'Let's fight! If you're ready, I'm here,' Topuria said to Pimblett before he entered the ring. White wasn't happy with Pimblett getting in the ring, knowing the history of bad blood between the two. The two have been at odds for some time, after they came to blows when Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at Topuria's head in 2022. 'That was a heavy knockout, I'll give you that,' Pimblett said to Topuria. 'But you will never knock me out.' Topuria replied: 'I'm going to submit you.' In the co-main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (30-5) successfully defended his belt by applying a rear-naked chokehold to defeat Kai Kara-France (25-12) at the 1:55 mark of the third round. It marked the second time the fighters met, nine years after their quarter-final clash on the reality show 'The Ultimate Fighter,' also won by Pantoja, but by unanimous decision. Pantoja, who extended his win streak to eight fights, won the title two years ago when he beat Brandon Moreno by decision, and has now defended his title successfully four times. The 35-year-old Brazilian was joined in the ring after his victory byJoshua Van, who put on a show of his own. Van (15-2-0) defeated No 1 contender Brandon Royval (17-8-0) in a slugfest in which both fighters displayed incredible boxing skills. Van used an overhand right to drop Royval before closing out the bout with a severe ground-and-pound to secure the unanimous decision. The 419 combined significant strikes landed were the third most in a UFC fight, and the most in both a three-round bout and a featherweight clash. Moments after Pantoja's win, Van challenged Pantoja with both standing nose to nose before exiting the octagon. In a lightweight bout, No 9 Beneil Dariush (23-6-1) survived a first-round knockdown to defeat No 11 Renato Moicano (20-7-1) via unanimous decision. In a bantamweight battle, Payton Talbott (10-1-0) used a much-improved ground game to register a unanimous decision over Felipe Lima (14-2-0).
