The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

Chittagong Division made 200 in the first innings against Dhaka Division on the first day of the four-dayer match of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

In reply, Dhaka Division scored 17 for the loss of none at the close of the first day play.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhiman Ghosh of Chittagong and his teammates Tamim Iqbal, Nazim Uddin contributed 41, 38 and 38 runs to the Chittagong first innings total.

Mosharrof Hossain of Dhaka grabbed three wickets giving away 38 runs while Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Sharif, Mohammad Rafique bagged a couple of wicket each for 23, 42 and 48 runs respectively.

A seven-wicket haul by Dollar Mahmud powered Khulna Division to restrict Rajshahi Division to 174 for the loss of nine in the first innings at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Motiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna on the first day of the four-dayer match.

Dollar Mahmud bowled a superb spell and completed on the first day as 18-5-39-7.

Murad Khan was the other successful bowler for the hosts who plucked two wickets in the space of 43 runs.

Khaled Mashud and Anisur Rahman of Rajshahi Division added 35 and 29 runs respectively to the visiting side total.

Farhad Reza was on 26 before the bails were drawn for the first day.

Sports Reporter

A dashing undefeated 157 by Alok Kapali guided Sylhet Division to pile up 316 for the loss of four wickets in the first innings against Barisal Division on the first day of the four-dayer match of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium on Saturday.

Alok Kapali played 211 deliveries in his unfinished 254-minute innings, which was laced with 25 boundaries and two over boundaries.

Skipper Rajin Saleh hit a captain's knock of 82 off 166 balls amid 12 fours and a six.

Sylhet Division lost their early three wickets for 60 runs. Later, Alok Kapali and Rajin Saleh put up together 223 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Rajin Saleh was caught by Talha Jubaer off Arafat Salahuddin when the scoreboard was giving a reading of 283 for the loss of four wickets.

Arafat Salahuddin of Barisal was the only bowler for his side who shone with the cherry. He harpooned four wickets conceding 94 runs.

UNB, Dhaka

Araf Apparels confirmed their semifinal berth in the Office Hockey League-2007, outplaying Rising Group by 4-1 goals in the day's lone Group B match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium here Saturday.

Araf Apparels led the first half 1-0.

Sri Raju Sarker struck thrice while Sri Krishna Kumar netted the other for Araf Apparels in the day's one-sided affair. Imran Ahmed Sohel scored the lone goal for Rising Group.

Raju opened the account for the winners in the 31st minute scoring from a field goal (1-0) while Krishna doubled the margin in the 44th minute after the breather, also in the same fashion (2-0).

Raju then netted the 3rd in the 46th minute (3-0) while Imran pulled one back for Rising Group in the 58th minute (3-1).

Raju sealed the fate of the match in the 65th minute scoring another field goal (4-1).

Earlier two other teams, Sonali Bank SRC from Group B and Bangladesh Army from Group A, ensured their semifinal berths.

UNB, Dhaka

Orient Cricket Academy earned a 35-run victory over Sonali Metro Cricket Academy in a super league match of the Third Division Qualifying Cricket League at the Dhaka University ground on Saturday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Orient CA scored 217 for 7 in stipulated 45 overs with Saiful contributing 67 runs.

In reply, Sonali Metro CA were all out for 182 runs in 44.4 overs with Ninad making 55 runs.

In the day's other matches, Arif Cricket Academy (145/10 in 36.4 overs) beat Kalabagan Cricket Academy (132/10 in 44.4) by 13 runs at the City Club ground while Bodyline Cricket Academy (209/9 in 44.2) defeated Altaf Cricket Foundation (208/10 in 43.2) by one wicket at the Dhanmondi Club ground.

AFP, Shanghai

Italy's Alessio di Mauro has been banned for nine months and fined 60,000 dollars for betting on matches by the ATP, the governing body for men's tennis.

The 31-year-old is the first player to be penalised under the Anti- Corruption Programme of the ATP after he was found to have bet on matches between November 2, 2006 and June 12, 2007.

A statement from the ATP said they wanted "a longer suspension" but added that there was no evidence that the world number 124 either bet on his own matches or "attempted to affect the outcome of any matches".

UNB, Dhaka

West Team took an overall 154-run lead over East Team on the 2nd day of the four-day match of the Challengers Cup Cricket at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

Team West, which made 246 runs in the first innings, today scored 94 for 8 in 29 overs at stump in the 2nd innings after dismissing Team East for 186 runs in the first innings.

Only five Team West batsmen -- Hasibul Hossain (not out 20), Monirul Islam (17), Saikat Ali (16), Arif Hossain (12), Mohammad Kalim (10)-- reached the double figures.

Mahmuduzzaman grabbed three wickets while Rumman Islam and Debabrata Pal took two wickets each.

Earlier, Team East resumed the first innings with overnight 55 for 1 and were bundled out for 186 runs with Humayan Kabir making team highest 29, featuring five fours.

Middle order Rajon contributed 26, lower order Raihanuddin Arafat 18 runs and two night watch batsmen Monirul Islam (18) and Mizanuddin Ripon (14) scored 28 and 16 runs respectively.

Rashedul Haque Sumon, Monirul Islam, Hashibul Hossain and Ariful Islam captured two wickets each.

In another Challengers Cup Cricket match, an unconquered 83 by Kamrul Islam enabled North team to score 154 runs for 5 in 97 overs in the first innings against South team on the first day of the four-day affairs at BKSP today.

One down Kamrul Islam notched 309-ball 83 with six boundaries for North team, which batted first after winning the toss.

Number five Mahmudul Hasan made 35 runs and Arman Hossain was batting with 15 runs.

Mohammad Shoaib grabbed three wickets for 18 in 14 overs with five maidens while Ahsan ullah and Mazharuddin took one wicket each.

Reuters, California

The Los Angeles Galaxy believe new head coach Ruud Gullit is the ideal man to resurrect their playing fortunes despite his mediocre record as a manager.

Widely regarded as one of the most gifted players in the game's history, Dutchman Gullit won his only trophy as a manager with Chelsea 10 years ago when they lifted the FA Cup.

"I would take in a minute the results he got at Chelsea in his first year and accept that next year (in LA) as success," Tim Leiweke, president and chief executive of the entertainment conglomerate that owns the Galaxy, told reporters on Friday.

"His problem as a coach was not results, it was probably more the burnout," he added of Gullit who has been appointed on a three-year contract with the Galaxy after previous spells as manager of Chelsea, Newcastle United and Feyenoord.

He guided English Premier League club Chelsea to the 1997 FA Cup final, with the west London side capturing their first major trophy for 26 years, before being sacked the following year.

Gullit then took over from former Scotland international Kenny Dalglish as manager of Newcastle in August 1998 but resigned 12 months later after a dismal start to the season.

He took charge of Feyenoord in 2004, helping them finish fourth in the Dutch first division, before resigning in May 2005.

"I think Ruud is a different guy today," Leiweke said after Gullit's formal introduction as Galaxy coach at the team's home stadium.

"I think he has learned a lot in life, he has settled down, he is a family guy and I think he will have a better experience here because he is more mature and is certainly more at peace with himself."

The 45-year-old Gullit, European Footballer of the Year in 1987, faces an uphill task in taking over a Major League Soccer team that has failed to reach the playoffs for the last two seasons.

"We don't like losing and I don't like people pointing fingers at our organisation so the last few weeks haven't been good," Leiweke said, referring also to Yallop's decision to quit the club on Sunday.

"I believe you wake up every day and you press yourself and you test yourself and you try to make yourself the best that you can be.

"And that's what the Galaxy is going to be. Ruud is going to make us bigger, he's going to create even more demand and expectation from our standpoint, and I like that.

"He has a credibility, a voice and a presence that we need in the locker room. He is going to give us some opportunities we normally wouldn't get.

"He's been in the three-ring circus his whole life. He has lived in that spotlight and he loves that spotlight. The spotlight has come back to singe him a couple of times and I think that's what he has to learn here, not to burn out."