The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

A five-wicket haul by medium pacer Alamgir Kabir powered Rajshahi Division to skittled out Barisal Division for a paltry 182 in the first innings on the opening day of the four-dayer match of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra on Wednesday.

Alamgir Kabir bowled extremely well and finished as 22-7-52-5.

Mohammad Shahzada of Rajshahi chipped in with two wickets giving away 63 runs in his 21 overs amid five maidens.

Imran Ahmed of Barisal and his teammate Shaheen Hossain tried to resist Rajshahi bowling attack.

Imran Ahmed notched up a polished 43 off 61 balls including five fours while Shaheen Hossain remained undefeated with 31 off 94 balls.

Rajshahi Division were at the stamps with 39 for the loss of one wicket.

Talha Jubaer, the right-arm medium pacer of Barisal took one wicket for 21 runs.

Meanwhile, Sylhet Division made 223 for the loss of seven wickets in the first innings against Dhaka Division on the first day of their four-dayer clash at the Narayangonj Osmani Stadium.

Sylhet lost their early two wickets for 35 runs. Later, Golam Rahman and skipper Rajin Saleh repaired the damage adding together 64 runs in the third wicket stand when the team's total was 99 before Golam Rahman was unfortunately run out by Mohammad Ashraful making 43. Golam Rahman faced 117 balls in his 165-minute innings, which was ornamented with five fours.

Ezaz Ahmed of Sylhet Division was his team's most successful batsman. He made a fine 54 off 68 balls amid five fours and two sixes.

Rajin Saleh scored 36 off 122 balls with three shots across the ropes.

Medium pacer Mohammad Sharif of Dhaka grabbed three wickets at the cost of 41 runs while Mahbubul Alam bagged a pair of wickets instead of 54 runs.

Besides, veteran spinner Mohammad Rafique took one wicket for 79 runs.

UNB, Dhaka

Abahani Limited leveled the three-match series 1-1 beating arch-rivals Mohammedan SC by 2-1 goals in the 2nd "best of three football" match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Wednesday.

With this win, the "sky blue" Dhanmondi outfit also took sweet revenge of their defeat in the first match.

The third and last match of the series will be held on Friday at 4:30 pm at the same venue.

Earlier, on Monday, Mohammedan SC beat Abahani Limited by 5-4 goals in tiebreaker in the first match.

In the day's match, Abul Hossain and Motiur Munna shared the two goals for the winners who led the first half 1-0 while Jumratul Islam Mithu netted the lone goal for the losers.

Abul put Abahani Limited in the lead in the 32nd minute by a header from inside the danger zone capitalizing on a left side free kick of Munna (1-0).

After the lemon break, Munna doubled the Abahani margin in the 47th minute by a placing shot from inside the D box after dodging past opponent custodian Aminul, following a Robin left wing cross (2-0).

Mithu pulled one back for Mohammedan SC in the 73rd minute from a penalty. Mohammedan SC got the spot kick as opponent defender Domenic fouled Rony inside the danger zone.

The day's result could have ended in a draw, but opponent custodian Biplob fisted another Mohammedan SC penalty kick taken by Arman Aziz in the 17th minute.

Abahani Limited got two real chances in the entire match and they converted both into goals.

On the other hand, Mohammedan SC created more scoring chances, but failed to take the result in their favour.

Yellow cards: Biplob, Munna (Abahani) and Mithu and Figo (Mohammedan)

Abahani Limited -- Biplob, Nazrul (Faisal), Prodip, Mintu, Robin, Pranotosh, Abul, Amely, Moni (Tipu) Munna and Domenic.

Mohammedan SC -- Aminul, Kamal, Ariful, Biplob, Ripon, Mishu, Sharif, Mithu, Aziz, Farhad (Rony) and Figo.

Sports Reporter

Chittagong Division piled up a mammoth 322 for the loss of eight wickets in the first innings against Khulna Division on the first day of the four-dayer match of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 9th National Cricket League at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday.

Gazi Salahuddin of Chittagong was the victim of nervous ninety. He was diprived for a century for just six runs. Salahuddin hit 94 off 184 balls in his 234-minute knock which was laced with 13 fours.

Mahbubul Karim made 61 off 87 balls. He smashed 11 boundaries before he was trapped leg before wicket by Robiul Islam.

Skipper Ehsanul Haque was at the crease with 56 off 114 balls. He hit eight fours in his unfinished 157-minute innings.

Opener Nafees Iqbal was his team's other notable run getter. He struck 40 off 45 balls with eight strokes beyond the ropes.

Ziaur Rahman, Murad Khan, Robiul Islam of Khulna picked up two wickets each for 58, 75 and 86 runs respectively.

Besides, Nahidul Haque and Fariduddin Masud took one wicket apiece.

AFP, Kandy

Sri Lanka defeated England by 88 runs in the first cricket Test here on Wednesday to take the lead in the three-match series.

England, set a victory target of 350, were dismissed for 261 in the last hour of the fifth and final day's play at the Asgiriya stadium.

The second Test starts at the Sinhalese Sports Club in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Sunday.

Scoreboard

Final scoreboard of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka at the Asgiriya stadium here on Wednesday:

Sri Lanka 1st innings: 188 (K. Sangakkara 92, P. Jayawardene 51, M. Hoggard 4-29, M. Panesar 3-46)

England 1st innings: 281 (I. Bell 83, P. Collingwood 45,

M. Muralitharan 6-55)

Sri Lanka 2nd innings: 442-8 decl (K. Sangakkara 152,

M. Jayawardene 65, M. Panesar 3-132)

England 2nd innings (overnight 9-1):

A. Cook c Silva b Vaas 4

M. Vaughan c P. Jayawardene b Vaas 5

J. Anderson b Vaas 11

I. Bell b Muralitharan 74

K. Pietersen b Fernando 18

Collingwood c Sangakkara b Fernando 16

R. Bopara lbw b Jayasuriya 34

M. Prior b Muralitharan 63

R. Sidebottom lbw b Muralitharan 1

M. Hoggard b Malinga 8

M. Panesar not out 2

Extras: (b5, lb9, nb11) 25

Total 261

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Cook), 2-22 (Vaughan), 3-27 (Anderson), 4-55 (Pietersen), 5-90 (Collingwood), 6-139 (Bopara), 7-248 (Prior), 8-249 (Bell), 9-253 (Sidebottom).

Bowling: Vaas 17-3-56-3 (nb5), Malinga 15-3-39-1 (nb4), Muralitharan 36-12-85-3 (nb1), Jayasuriya 14-6-28-1, Fernando 12-1-39-2 (nb1).

Overs: 94

Sri Lanka won by 88 runs

Toss: Sri Lanka

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Asad Rauf (PAK)

TV umpire: Tyron Wijewardene (SRI)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

Second Test in Colombo from Dec 9-13;

Third Test in Galle from Dec 18-22.