ABU DHABI // The start of the county cricket season is supposed to herald the beginning of summer, but the clocks have not even gone forward in the UK yet.
The opening fixture of the English campaign has been played in the UAE capital since 2010, usually in balmy conditions, using a pink ball under floodlights.
The latest installment, which started on Sunday between MCC and Yorkshire, has already had a very different feel, though.
Yorkshire, the champion county, had requested the match be played in the standard daytime hours, and using the conventional red ball, too.
There was a cooling breeze blowing across the ground, unlike the stifling conditions that often prevailed in seasons past.
And there were indications around the ground that suggested winter had been as harsh as might be expected in the UK rather than the UAE.
Read more:
[ Alex Lees pays tribute to bowlers as Yorkshire defend Emirates Twenty20 title in Dubai ]
[ 2016 Champion County cricket match in Abu Dhabi: Dates, time and general info ]
This is the first match of note to be played here since last week’s storm in Abu Dhabi, which had a telling effect on the Zayed Cricket Stadium and its surrounds.
On the neighbouring academy ovals, the sightscreens which were blown down by the heavy winds still lie upended.
The one at the southernmost end remains upside down on the other side of the road adjacent to the ground, having smashed through the picket fence marking the field’s perimeter.
The main stadium has been marked, too. A sign on the grass bank on the western side lies grounded, leaving some substantial divots.
Parts of the television camera gantry at the North End have broken off and are hanging across the blue plastic seats.
And, despite all that, the groundsmen have provided enviable playing conditions for the two teams.
Presumably the majority of county professionals would be happy to play in this fixture, rather than whiling away the final weeks of pre-season in the frosty conditions back at home. It was 11 degrees in Leeds, where Yorkshire play home matches, on Sunday.
Gary Ballance is certainly feeling that way. Yorkshire’s No 3 posted the first century of a season which he hopes might contain a recall to the England ranks, as his side reached 275 in their first innings.
“Some of the guys have just been batting indoors for four or five months, and they are sick of that,” Ballance said.
“Being out here, having two weeks here, it is important for the whole squad to get a feel for playing on grass again. I think it is a good tradition to have.”
Ballance’s innings was ended on 105 when he fell lbw to Samit Patel, who toured here when England played Pakistan in three Tests at the end of 2015.
James Tredwell, another player who is attempting to catch the eye of England’s selectors again, was the pick of the MCC bowlers. He took three for 53 in 25 overs.
“It is great for us to be able to come out here and be able to play a first-class game now,” Tredwell said.
“It is good preparation for the first class season at home, so this is brilliant for us as part of our pre-season prep.”
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2252 – Dh 50
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6026 – Dh 200
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2019 ASIA CUP POTS
Pot 1
UAE, Iran, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2
China, Syria, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Qatar, Thailand
Pot 3
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, India, Vietnam
Pot 4
North Korea, Philippines, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Turkmenistan
MATCH INFO
Rajasthan Royals 158-8 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 143/7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 15 runs
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
Results
Men's finals
45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.
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71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg: Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).
81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.
91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.
Women's finals
45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.
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Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
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Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
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0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
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JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
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Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
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Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
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Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
'Will of the People'
Artist: Muse
Label: Warner
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All The Light We Cannot See
Creator: Steven Knight
Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie, Aria Mia Loberti
Rating: 1/5
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
J Street Polling Results
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76% of US Jewish voters believe Donald Trump and his allies in the Republican Party are responsible for a rise in anti-Semitism
74% of American Jews agreed that “Trump and the Maga movement are a threat to Jews in America"
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Kill
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Starring: Lakshya, Tanya Maniktala, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Raghav Juyal
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PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES
All times UAE (+4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)