The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Calcutta

Stand-in captain Younis Khan's composed unbeaten century helped Pakistan secure a draw in the second test against India on Tuesday.

Younis posted 107 not out and shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 136 with Mohammad Yousuf (42 not out), batting through the last session to save Pakistan after four wickets had tumbled cheaply for 78.

Set a challenging target of 345, Pakistan finished on 214 for four to spike India's hopes of clinching the series ahead of the third and final test match which begins in Bangalore on Saturday.

India leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first test by six wickets.

"We did well in the end, it has boosted the team's morale for the final test match," said Younis, whose 184-ball knock contained 18 hits to the fence.

Leading by 160 runs in the first innings, India declared its second innings at 184-4 after losing overnight batsmen Mahendra Dhoni (37) and Sourav Ganguly (46), both of whom were clean bowled by paceman Shoaib Akhtar (2-61).

Former captain Ganguly passed 6,000 test runs during his innings. India made 616-5 in its first innings and Pakistan replied with 456.

Indian paceman Zaheer Khan made an early breakthrough by snapping a return catch from opener Yasir Hameed (14) before skipper Anil Kumble bowler Kamran Akmal for 14) and trapped Salman Butt lbw for 11.

Seamer Munaf Patel dislodged the off-stump of Misbah-ul-Haq (six) to leave Pakistan tottering at 78 for four.

Younis said Pakistan faced an uphill task from the moment India passed 600 in its first innings.

He said the sixth-wicket stand between Misbah and Akmal helped Pakistan stay in the match after a top-order slump in the first innings. Pakistan faced a follow-on before Misbah and Akmal revived it by scoring centuries.

"Misbah and Kamran put up a fight that raised hopes of saving the test," the captain said.

Indian skipper Kumble said the track offered no assistance to his bowlers.

"The pitch was pretty flat, it was tough for the bowlers," said Kumble, who believed India would have pushed for a win if the fielders had taken their catches.

UNB, Dhaka

Already one up in the series, Dhaka Mohammedan SC face Abahani Limited in the second "best of three football" match today (Wednesday) hoping for a win to take an unassailable lead.

Earlier, on Monday, Mohammedan SC took a 1-0 lead beating Abahani Limited by 5-4 goals in tie-breaker in the first match.

The second of the "best of three football" matches between the two traditional rivals will kick off at 4:30 pm tomorrow at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Talking to UNB on Tuesday, Mohammedan SC coach Shafiqul Islam Manik said they would take the field to win the second match to ensure the series.

He, however, admitted that they would be slightly under pressure as Nigerian recruit Manjamin and Jumratul Islam Mithu might miss the match due to injury while defender Hasan al Mamun, who received red card in the first match, would automatically miss the second match.

On the other hand, Abahani Limited manager Stayajit Das Rupu said the match against Mohammedan SC would be a "do or die battle for us after losing the first match."

He said: "To remain alive in the series, we've no alternative but to win the second match."

There is no injury problem for Abahani except their captain Arif Khan will miss the match as he received a red card in the first match.

UNB, Dhaka

The Metropolis 1st Division Chess League-2007, organised by Bangladesh Chess Federation, will begin on December 12 at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room.

Sixteen teams will participate in the league. The teams are reigning champions Bangladesh Biman, runners-up Leonine Chess Club, Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Destiny 2000 Limited, Narayanganj City Chess Club, Titas Club, Sonali Bank Sports & Recreation Club, Dhaka University Chess Club, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Mohakhali Pradip Sangsad, Friends Chess Power, Farashganj SC, Faith Chess Club, Agragati Chess Club (Toyota Motors), Prime Life Insurance Company and Sultana Kamal Smriti Pathagar.

The teams have been requested to enroll their names with entry and registration fees by December 9. They have also been asked to submit their team list by December 10.

Reuters, Sydney

Australian Shane Warne joined in the congratulations to Muttiah Muralitharan after the Sri Lankan off-spinner knocked him off the top of the list of test cricket's leading wicket-takers.

Muralitharan claimed his 709th victim in the first test against England on Monday, jumping ahead of the leg-spinner who retired from test cricket this year.

"Congratulations to Murali-he's been a wonderful player for a long period of time," Warne said in a Cricket Australia statement.

"He's an excellent competitor and has been great for Sri Lankan cricket. He's a great bloke too."

Warne and Muralitharan, long-time rivals on the field, met up again last month when Australia and Sri Lanka played a test series for the new Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.

"I've been to Sri Lanka to help him after the Tsunami and we now even have a trophy named after the two of us," Warne said. "He'll probably go on and get 1,000 now but today I'd just like to say 'well done on the record'."

Warne overtook Muralitharan at the top of the all-time list in 2004 and surged ahead of the Sri Lankan before his retirement in January after 145 tests. Muralitharan claimed the record again in his 116th test.

Sports Reporter

The seventh round of the four-dayer matches of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League (NCL) begins today at the different venues across the country.

Hosts Dhaka Division will take on Sylhet Division at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium while Rajshahi Division will face Barisal Division at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra and Khulna Division will meet Chittagong Division at the Chittagong Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium.

Khulna Division are now at the top of the points table with 72 points from six matches while Rajshahi Division are breathing on Khulna's neck with 67 points from as many matches.

Dhaka Division are at the third spot with 54 points from six matches while Chittagong Division are now at the fourth position with 51 points from the same number of outings.

Barisal Division are at the fifth position with 51 points from six matches.

On the other hand, Sylhet Division are at the bottom of the points table with 33 points from six outings.

AP, Kandy

A swarm of bees briefly halted play in the cricket test between Sri Lanka and England on Tuesday when they flew across Asgiriya Stadium, forcing the players to all lie motionless on the ground.

The bees were first spotted by Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, who laid down on the field during the fourth day of the first test between the countries. The players soon followed, with both teams remaining on the ground for several minutes until the bees moved on.

Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who has played on the ground since his school days, said angry bees have invaded the field at least twice before.

Sri Lanka declared at 442 runs for eight wickets in its second innings to set England a 350-run target with one day left. England was 9-1 when bad light stopped play.

UNB, Dhaka

Trailing 1-2 in the five-match one-day series, visiting Bangladesh Under-19 team play the 4th one-day match against Pakistan Under-19 team today (Wednesday) at the Quaid-e-Azam Park (Steel Mills Karachi).

The hosts took a 2-0 lead in the one-day series outplaying their Bangladesh counterparts by huge 144 runs in the first match and by 79 runs in the 2nd match.

Bangladesh U-19 team staged a comeback winning the 3rd one-day match by 24 runs on Sunday to make the series 1-2.

The youth teams will meet in the 5th and last one-day match on Dec 7 at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) ground.

AFP, Wellington

Bangladesh and a New Zealand team will play a Twenty20 match this month to raise funds for victims of November's deadly cyclone.

Cricket New Zealand said today the match will be played in Hamilton on December 23 at the start of Bangladesh's tour of New Zealand.

Cyclone Sidr smashed into the southern coastal districts of the delta nation on November 15, killing at least 3,200 people and leaving millions homeless or short of basic staples such as rice.

"With the Bangladesh cricket team touring New Zealand in December and January we felt it is appropriate and the right thing to do to assist the relief efforts in their country," Cricket New Zealand chief executive Justin Vaughan said.

The New Zealand XI will be captained by Stephen Fleming, who was replaced earlier this year as captain of the national team by Daniel Vettori.

An invitational Masters team will also play the New Zealand under-19 side in another Twenty20 game before the main match as part of the fund raising.

Bangladesh will play three one-day internationals and two Tests during their tour of New Zealand.

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Kho Kho Federation will arrange the day-long Sabu Smriti Kho Kho Tournament at the Paltan Maidan on December 16.

The association will arrange the Kho Kho meet in memory of former seminar vice-president of Bangladesh Kho Kho Federation and freedom fighter late Mesbah Uddin Sabu.

The interested teams have been requested to enlist their names at the office room of Bangladesh Kho Kho Federation in Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.