The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

Rajshahi Division retained their supremacy in the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League when they defeated Sylhet Division by six wickets in their one-dayer match at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing Sylhet's modest total of 206 off 49.3 overs, Rajshahi coasted home in 46.5 overs scoring 209 for the loss of four wickets.

Rabiul Karim of Rajshahi knocked a patient 54 facing 90 deliveries amid four boundaries while Nayeem Islam hit an undefeated 52 off 49 balls including four fours.

Farhad Hossain hit a polished 41 off 75 balls.

Alok Kapali of Sylhet bagged a couple of wickets conceding 36 runs while Nazmul Hossain and Imtiaz Hossain got one wicket each for 20 and 29 runs respectively.

Earlier, Alok Kapali shone with the willow making a fine 69 off 64 balls. He cracked six fours and two sixes.

Farhad Hossain of Rajshahi bowled a devastating spell and finished as 3.3-X-16-5.

Delwar Hossain and Mahbub Alam bagged a pair of wickets each giving away 23 and 27 runs respectively.

After yesterday's outcome, Rajshahi Division secured maximum 12 points from six matches while Sylhet Division remained with four points from as many matches.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Division registered an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Khulna Division in their one-dayer clash at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna on the same day.

Batting first Khulna Division were skittled out for 125 off 37.2 overs.

In replay, Dhaka Division romped home and dry in just 33.2 overs making 126 for the loss of two wickets.

Opener Shamsur Rahman of Dhaka Division notched up a sedate 53 playing 91 deliveries with three fours and a six while skipper Al-Shahriar remained undefeated with 35 off 59 balls. He struck five shots beyond the ropes.

Spinner Abdur Razzak of Khulna Division picked up two wickets at the cost of 24 runs.

Earlier, Abdur Razzak hit 39 off 56 balls including two boundaries.

Mahbubul Alam of Dhaka Division played the key role in wrecking Khulna innings capturing four wickets for 34 runs with a good support from Niaz Morshed who chipped in with two wickets instead of 39 runs.

Besides, Mosharrof Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyad took one wicket apiece.

Dhaka Division and Khulna Division collected six points each from their respective six matches.

Sports Reporter

Barisal Division recorded their second win in the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League when they beat Chittagong Division by 15 runs in their one-dayer match at the Chittagong Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium on Saturday.

Sent into bat first, Barisal Division piled up a massive 289 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then they bowled out Chittagong for 274 off 47.5 overs.

Kamrul Islam of Barisal hit a run-a-ball 78 (not out). He struck six fours and a six.

Arafat Salahuddin cracked a quick-fire 68 off 46 balls. He sent the ball five times over the ropes and two times through the fence.

Rakibul Hasan and Imran Ahmed were the other notable scorers for Barisal. Rakibul Hasan knocked a worthy 56 off 69 balls amid five fours and a six while Imran Ahmed hit an exact 50 off 82 balls with six strokes beyond the ropes.

Ehsanul Haque and Kamrul Islam of Chittagong got two wickets each conceding 44 and 65 runs respectively.

Later, Nazim Uddin of Chittagong hammerred a windy 84 playing 68 deliveries. He hit the ball 11 times through the fence and two times over the ropes.

Skipper Ehsanul Haque hit a captain's knock of 57 off 72 balls including seven fours.

Faisal Hossain contributed 45 runs to the Chittagong total.

Tariqul Islam and Sajedul Islam of Barisal removed altogether six wickets sharing three wickets each giving away 38 and 52 runs respectively.

Medium pacer Talha Jubaer took two wickets for 73 runs.

Barisal and Chittagong earned four points each from their respective six outings.

Reuters, Port Elizabeth

South African coach Mickey Arthur laid into his players after New Zealand cruised to victory in the second one-day international on Friday.

New Zealand won by seven wickets with 11.2 overs to spare to level the series ahead of the decider in Cape Town on Sunday.

The result ended a run of five victories by South Africa.

"We were poor in all three departments, this has been our worst game in a long while," Arthur told a news conference.

"We were very ordinary and our dressing room is very disappointed. We've rocked up at every game and expected to roll them over.

"The New Zealand dressing room is more hungry than ours at the moment and that's a concern. They did it all right tonight and we did it all poorly."

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, by contrast, was full of praise for his team.

"It was a complete performance, you couldn't ask more of the team," Vettori said. "It was a very good one-day victory."

South Africa squeaked to a two-wicket win off the last ball in the first match of the series in Durban on Sunday, a result that was still fresh in the New Zealanders' minds.

"The first words out of a lot of the guys' mouths were that we should have won in Durban, so the series should be over now," Vettori said.

"But that's not the way it is. Now that we've got the momentum we've got to make sure we hold onto it."

South Africa may have to take on the buoyant New Zealanders in Cape Town without captain Graeme Smith, who has been laid low by a virus.

Scoreboard

Final scoreboard in the second one-day international between South Africa and New Zealand at St George's Park Friday:

South Africa

H Gibbs c Styris b Mills 0

G Smith c Taylor b Mills 0

J Kallis c Taylor b Oram 26

A de Villiers b Gillespie 8

J Duminy c Vincent b Patel 23

M Boucher c Patel b Vettori 48

S Pollock b Gillespie 52

A Morkel b Gillespie 6

J Botha c Vincent b Mills 8

A Nel not out 30

C Langeveldt not out 2

Extras (nb1, w5) 6

Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 209

Falls: 1-0 (Gibbs), 2-5 (Smith), 3-20 (De Villiers), 4-53 (Duminy), 5-66 (Kallis), 6-155 (Boucher), 7-167 (Morkel), 8-176 (Pollock)

Bowling: Mills 8-1-43-3 (1w), Gillespie 10-1-55-3 (1nb, 1w),

Oram 10-1-31-1 (1w), Patel 10-0-39-1 (1w), Vettori 10-1-29-1 (1w), Styris 2-0-12-0

New Zealand

L Vincent run out (Nel) 9

B McCullum run out

(sub - Steyn) 81

J How lbw b Langeveldt 76

S Styris not out 24

R Taylor not out 13

Extras (lb3, w4) 7

Total (3 wkts, 38.4 overs) 210

Falls: 1-9 (Vincent), 2-163 (McCullum), 3-190 (How)

Bowling: Pollock 9-0-29-0, Nel 8-0-66-0 (2w), Langeveldt 8-0-40-1 (1w), Morkel 6-0- 38-0, Botha 7.4-0-34-1 (1w)

Did not bat: M Sinclair, J Oram, D Vettori, K Mills, J Patel, M Gillespie.

Result: New Zealand won by seven wickets.

Umpires: M Benson (ENG), M Erasmus (RSA)

TV umpire: I Howell (RSA)

Match referee: J Srinath (IND)

AFP, Kandy

England, replying to Sri Lanka's modest 188, were 49-1 at stumps on the opening day of the first cricket Test here on Saturday.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 188 (K. Sangakkara 92, P. Jayawardene 51, M. Hoggard 4-29, M. Panesar 3-46) England 49-1 (I. Bell 36 not out)

Pakistan 50-1 vs India (616-5 decl)

AFP, Kolkata

Pakistan were 50 for one in reply to India's first innings total of 616 for five declared at stumps on the second day of the second test against Pakistan on Saturday.

Brief scores:

India 616-5 decl (W. Jaffer 202, S. Ganguly 102, VVS Laxman 112 not out) v Pakistan 50-1.

for cyclone victims

UNB, Dhaka

State-run mobile phone company Teletalk named as the title sponsor of the 'best of three football matches', involving the country's two soccer giants Abahani Limited and Dhaka Mohammedan SC, to raise funds for the cyclone victims.

BFF president and organising committee chairman SA Sultan Tito disclosed this at a press conference at the BFF conference room in the afternoon.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) arranged the three-match series between the country's two sports titans on December 3, 5 and 7-- all at the Bangabandhu National Stadium -- to help the Sidr victims.

BFF vice president Abdur Rahim, acting general secretary Manjoor Hossain Malu and Mohammedan SC general secretary and co-chairman of the organising committee Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan were present on the occasion.

BFF acting general secretary Manjoor Hossain Malu and managing director of Teletalk Amirul Hassan signed an agreement to this effect at the press conference on behalf their respective organisations.

Under the deal, Teletalk Limited will provide Tk 3 lakh to the BFF to be the title sponsor of the meet and it has earned the right to place some 23 billboards around the ground, display Teletalk banners around the stadium. Besides, all the participating players will use the logo of Teletalk in their armbands.

Teletalk will provide medals, crests and trophies to the teams in addition to a best player's award.

The entire proceeds of the three-match series will go to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund.

The rates of ticket have been fixed at Tk 100 for VIP gallery (one match), Tk 30 for gallery (one match) and Tk 75 for gallery for all the three matches. The tickets are now available at different booths in the city.

'Radio Today', the official partner of the exhibition matches, will give match updates after every five minutes.

Fans of both Abahani Limited and Mohammedan SC have launched massive campaigns in different parts of the city and its adjoining areas to make the series a success.

Meanwhile, the BFF will hold a rally today (Sunday) at 11 am with the participation of the players and officials of different metropolis clubs to inspire the people to enjoy the charity match. The rally will start from Bangabandhu National Stadium and conclude at the National Press Club.

AFP, Wellington

Superstar David Beckham thrilled a record New Zealand football crowd by scoring as the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Wellington Phoenix 4-1 in a friendly match here Saturday

A penalty awarded when a Phoenix defender allegedly chopped down a Galaxy player in the box was questionable and a howl went up from the crowd when it was given.

But the jeers turned to cheers when Beckham stepped up and blasted the spot kick high into the net for the Galaxy's final goal.

"I was surprised. I'm not the penalty taker but (striker) Landon (Donovan) told me to have it and I was happy to," he said later. "I struck it pretty well."

Beckham said it was good for the Galaxy to end their two-match tour Down Under on a winning note, following a 5-3 loss to Sydney on Tuesday.

"We played the ball around well and enjoyed it," he said.

But the result did not mean much to the crowd, who just wanted to be able to say they saw their hero in the flesh.

The decibel level rose every time the 32-year-old England star touched the ball, even though the bulk of the 31,853 crowd-a New Zealand record for a football match-were nominally supporting the home team.