CHENNAI: Fighting half-centuries by Hardik Pandya and Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped India recover from a top-order slump and post 281/7 in the opening one-day international against Australia in Chennai on Sunday.
Electing to bat on a cloudy afternoon, the hosts lost five early wickets before Pandya, who hit 83, and Dhoni, who scored 79, shared a 118-run stand to put up a challenging total.
Fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile rattled the Indian batting with three quick strikes including the prized scalp of skipper Virat Kohli for nought.
Kohli tried to slice a widish delivery on the off side by Coulter-Nile but was superbly caught by Glenn Maxwell, who timed his jump to perfection, at backward point.
Coulter-Nile, who returned after a string of injuries that kept him out since June 2016, also got opener Ajinkya Rahane, for 5, and Manish Pandey, for 0, to reduce India to 11-3.
Rohit Sharma, who made 28, and Kedar Jadhav, who scored 40, tried to rebuild with their 53-run partnership before Marcus Stoinis sent the two batsmen back in the pavilion.
Dhoni, who has captained the successful Chennai franchise in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, then made it count along with Pandya for company.
The duo thwarted the Australian bowling with some stubborn batting before Pandya let loose to take the attack to the opposition.
Pandya took a special liking to Adam Zampa’s leg-spin as he smashed the bowler for a four and three successive sixes in an over to bring up his third ODI fifty.
Zampa though did get Pandya out for his only wicket in the innings but the bowlers’ 10 overs cost 66 runs for his side.
Dhoni soon took over to get some vital runs in the last five overs as he put on 72 runs with number-eight Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who remained unbeaten on 32.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who hit 4 fours and 2 sixes, in his 88-ball stay lost his wicket to James Faulkner in the final over.
Cricket: Pandya, Dhoni lift India to 281-7 in 1st ODI
Cricket: Pandya, Dhoni lift India to 281-7 in 1st ODI
Japan consulate in Jeddah celebrates emperor’s birthday, highlights strong cultural and economic ties
- In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Yamamoto highlighted the growing cultural exchange between the two nations
JEDDAH: The consulate general of Japan in Saudi Arabia celebrated the upcoming birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito with a reception at the residence of the consul general Daisuke Yamamoto in Jeddah on Thursday night.
The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, governor of Jeddah; Farid bin Saad Al-Shehri, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Makkah Region; Saleh Ali Al-Turki, mayor of Jeddah; and other Saudi officials, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the local community.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Yamamoto highlighted the growing cultural exchange between the two nations.
“The relationship between Japan and Saudi Arabia is particularly strong in the cultural field. Saudi people are very fond of Japanese pop culture, especially anime and manga, and many are motivated to learn Japanese just to enjoy the original works,” he said.
Yamamoto noted that while enthusiasm is high, challenges remain in expanding language education. “Currently, we don’t have a dedicated Japanese language institute in Jeddah. Some institutes exist in Riyadh, but here people mostly study Japanese on their own, which is difficult without interacting with native speakers. Establishing a permanent institute is one of our goals, but we cannot do it alone; we need Saudi partners,” he explained.
During his speech at the reception, Yamamoto said: “Japan is Saudi Arabia’s third-largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached $36 billion by the end of 2024, reflecting a 50-percent increase since 2016. Many Japanese companies are investing directly in the Kingdom, across sectors such as petrochemicals, energy, automobiles, electronics, and titanium production.” He also encouraged Saudi investors to explore opportunities in Japan’s market.
He also highlighted recent initiatives designed to strengthen cultural ties, including the three-day Hayy Matsuri Japanese cultural festival at Hayy Jameel, which welcomed more than 12,000 visitors, and a two-day Kabuki performance organized in partnership with the Historic Jeddah Project and teamLab. “These cultural exchanges offer a chance for Saudis to experience Japan firsthand, from traditional arts to contemporary innovations,” he said.
Yamamoto welcomed the Kingdom’s participation in upcoming international events in Japan, including the 2026 Asian and Paralympic Games in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture, as well as the GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama.
The evening concluded with a ceremonial cake cutting alongside a showcase of Japanese cuisine.
Reflecting on the broader Japan–Saudi relationship, Yamamoto praised the enduring friendship between the two nations.
“Our countries share a history of partnership that spans generations. Celebrations like today not only honor the emperor’s birthday, but also reinforce the enduring collaboration and mutual respect between our peoples,” he said.
He expressed hope for continued growth in cultural, educational, and economic collaboration, emphasizing the strong foundations laid under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
