The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

Rajshahi Division and Dhaka Division recorded wins in their respective one-dayer matches of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League on Tuesday.

At the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, hosts Rajshahi composed a massive 116-run victory over Barisal Division.

Sent into bat first, Rajshahi piled up a huge 295 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then they bowled out Barisal Division for 179 run off 48 overs.

Jahirul Islam and Junaed Siddique put on together 121 runs in the opening stand before Jahirul Islam was dismissed for 50.

Opener Junaed Siddique cracked a marvelous 120 facing 125 deliveries. He struck 13 boundaries and one over boundary.

Jahirul Islam hit three sixes and five fours in his 52-ball knock.

Tariqul Islam of Barisal got success with the cherry as he harpooned four wickets giving away 56 runs.

Ariful Haque was the other remarkable bowler for Barisal who bagged a pair of wickets conceding 74 runs.

Later, Sajedul Islam, Ariful Haque and wicketkeeper- batsman Mohammad Shaheen added 40, 39 and 30 (not out) to the Barisal total.

Farhad Reza of Rajshahi grabbed three wickets at the cost of 23 runs while Suhrawardy Shuvo and Mohammad Shahzada bagged a couple of wickets each for 16 and 30 runs respectively.

Besides, Nayeem Islam and Delwar Hossain took one wicket apiece.

At the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, Dhaka Division registered a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Sylhet Division.

Chasing Sylhets' total of 195 of 49.5 overs, Dhaka Division coasted home in 41.2 overs making 196 for the loss of three wickets.

Mosharrof Hossain of Dhaka Division remained undefeated with 49 of 68 balls including three fours and a six while Javed Omar notched up a no table 48 off 71 balls with eight shots through the fence.

Besides, Al Shahriar and Mehrab Hossain (Junior) contributed 35 and 34 runs respectively to the Dhaka total.

Nabil Samad of Sylhet Division got two wickets giving away 26 runs while Alok Kapali took one wicket for 27 runs.

Earlier, Alok Kapali and skipper Rajin Saleh added 42 and 35 runs respectively to the Sylhet total.

Mosharrof Hossain of Dhaka claimed three wickets in the space of 32 runs while Mohammad Ashraful bagged two wickets in exchange of 23 runs.

Besides, Niaz Morshed, Mehrab Hossain (Junior) Mahmudullah Riyad, Mahbubul Alam took one wicket each.

UNB, Dhaka

ACC Green registered a six-wicket win over Battalion Boys Club in a match of the 3rd Division Qualifying Cricket League at the City Club ground here on Tuesday.

In the day's other match, Kalabaghan Cricket Academy beat Udayan Cricket Academy (White) by 18 runs at the Dhaka University ground.

Brief score:

Battalion Boys Club - 132 for 10 in 27.1 overs, Amir 39, Turjo 4/18;

ACC Green - 135 for 4 in 21.2 overs, Riad 87, Rahul 3/50.

Kalabaghan Cricket Academy - 200 for 9 in 45 overs, Sabbirul 49, Rizwan 6/46;

Udayan Cricket Academy (White) - 182 for all in 37.2 overs, Imranul 53, Rana 3/28.

Reuters, Lahore

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik is in positive mood, despite his team's test and one-day series defeat to South Africa, which he says will help them prepare for a tough Indian tour.

"We are disappointed to have lost out on a chance to win the the series but the guys tried hard and we will learn from our mistakes for the Indian tour," Malik told Reuters.

"If anything it is good we lost because now we can learn and be better prepared for the Indian tour which is always a pressure one for us."

Pakistan leave for India on Nov. 1 to play five one-day internationals and three tests. Their first one-dayer will take place in Guwahati on Nov. 5.

Pakistan were defeated in their five-match one-day series to South Africa on Monday 3-2 after losing the final game by 14-runs. South Africa also won the test series 1-0.

Malik insisted his team did not cave-in under pressure and said no one was to blame for the defeat.

"We batted irresponsibly in the final match after a solid start," he said. "I don't want to blame anyone because everyone tried their best.

"One result does not mean we are chokers," he added.

Malik said the return of rebellious strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar was a big boost for the team.

"He is always an asset for the team and top bowler if he is 100 percent fit," Malik said.

"It is good he bowled so well after playing after such a long time. It is good sign for the Indian series."

Akhtar returned to international cricket on Monday and took 4-43 after serving a 13 matches ban from his cricket board.

AFP, Sydney

Cricket great Shane Warne's "catalogue of reckless conduct" cost him the Australian Test captaincy, an official history of the national cricket board has revealed.

Warne's failure to become Test captain is a glaring deficiency in an otherwise glittering career that included claiming a world record 708 Test wickets, reviving the art of leg-spin bowling and totally dominating opponents.

The book "Inside Story", whose authors Gideon Haigh and David Frith were given unrestricted access to Cricket Australia's archives, confirms that Warne never became captain due to a succession of off-field scandals.

The warts-and-all history cites the minutes of a board meeting in August 2000, which list the reasons for Warne's sacking as Test vice-captain in favour of Adam Gilchrist.

At the time, the media had just revealed Warne bombarded a British nurse with lewd text messages, prompting Warne to comment that he was "disappointed"-not with his behaviour but with the fact that it had become public.

Warne had also been fined for accepting money from an Indian bookmaker, clashed with two New Zealand youths who snapped him breaching a personal sponsorship deal by smoking and allegedly derided Test colleague Scott Muller.

The book says the Australian Cricket Board, as it was then known, always had doubts about Warne's propensity to attract controversy and his "airy" dismissal of the nurse incident seemed to confirm them.

"Taught a lesson," began the board's list of reasons for sacking Warne.

"Leadership brings other responsibilities," it continued. "Given opportunities and shown he can't (behave); not this one issue; history of incidents; catalogue of reckless conduct; responsibility to maintain public confidence."

The board gave Warne some reason for hope, concluding its list with the comment, "door not closed."

Then in January 2001, a stump camera caught Warne swearing at Zimbabwe's Stuart Carlisle during a one-day match in Sydney, but the leg-spinner refused to take any responsibility for his actions.

Reuters, Lahore

Skipper Graeme Smith said his team's test and one-day series wins in Pakistan could mark a huge step forward for South African cricket.

The Proteas clinched a double after an exciting 14-run win in the fifth one-dayer in Lahore on Monday helped them wrap up the series 3-2 after winning the preceding two-test series 1-0.

"It is a fabulous achievement for us and a huge stepping stone," he told reporters at the end of the tour.

"After the World Cup people questioned our ability to play in these conditions," he said. "This series win is a big step forward for South African cricket.

"It is always a big challenge touring Pakistan for any team because of the lot of stuff that comes with it. Coming and playing in conditions you are not accustomed too is tough."

South Africa won their first test in Karachi but the final one-dayer was shifted out of the troubled southern city after a suspected suicide bomber struck at a rally of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Oct. 18, killing some 140 people.

South Africa host New Zealand and West Indies next and tour England in July.

"They are a few tactical things we need to look at but I don't remember the last time we won two trophies in the sub-continent," Smith said.

Sports Reporter

Khulna Division earned a narrow nine-run win over Chittagong Division in their one-dayer match of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League at the Bir Sreshtha Motiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna on Tuesday.

Coin-favoured Khulna Divison made 196 in 46 overs and then they bowled out Chittagong Division for 187 off 46.4 overs.

Tushar Imran of Khulna knocked a polished 40 off 70 balls while Ziaur Rahman hit 30 off 32 balls.

Ziaur sent the ball two times over the fence and two times through the ropes.

Sabbir Khan of Chittagong captured four wickets in lieu of 32 runs while Kamrul Islam picked up two wickets conceding 40 runs.

Later, Ehsanul Haque of Chittagong hit a captain's knock of 41 off 73 balls amid three fours while wicketkeeper-batsman Dhiman Ghosh knocked a notable 38 off 60 balls with four strokes across the ropes.

Mashrafee Bin Mortaza of Khulan bowled a devastating spell and finished as 9.4-2-31-5.

Ziaur Rahman and Syed Russel chipped in with two wickets each for 40 and 43 runs respectively.