Internet Edition. December 31, 2007, Updated: Bangladesh Time 12:00 AM 
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West Indies in historic Test win

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First Test, Port Elizabeth (day four): W Indies 408 & 175 beat S Africa 195 & 260 by 128 runs

West Indies won their first Test since May 2005 and their first ever in South Africa with a landmark 128-run victory in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

The Proteas dismissed the tourists for 175 early on day four, but their batsmen never looked like making 389.

Jacques Kallis (85) and AB de Villiers (60) resisted, but the rest crumbled.

Fidel Edwards (3-37) and Jerome Taylor (3-66) shone as the Windies beat a top nation away for the first time since beating England at Edgbaston in 2000. After that Birmingham win, they had endured an away record of four wins - all against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh - eight draws and 32 defeats.

And their overall record in South Africa had been eight losses and one draw. "Everyone played a part in this win," said captain Chris Gayle, who was leading the team in a Test for the first time.

"It's unbelievable, especially since we are just getting to know our new coach John Dyson. But we are really going to enjoy this victory.

"It's not the series, but it's a win and it feels really good. Beating South Africa in four days on [their] home soil is tremendous - it's my best match so far."

The visitors added 29 to their overnight 146-8, in which time Daren Powell edged a Harris delivery into his stumps and Taylor was caught at long-on after striking 22 from just 28 balls.

The Proteas were quickly in trouble at the start of their second innings when Herschelle Gibbs fell for his second duck of the match, Powell winning an lbw appeal as the batsman offered no shot to ball sngling in frmo outside off-stump.

Hashim Amla edged Edwards behind and it was 20-3 when the same bowler surprised skipper Graeme Smith with a bumper which he could only fend to short-leg.

The arrival of Kallis changed South Africa's fortunes ever so slightly with the all-rounder providing some stability in the middle.

Ashwell Prince was snapped up at first slip off Taylor before Kallis and De Villiers went on to add 112, easily the highest partnership of the innings.

Kallis' beautifully-crafted knock was brought to an end shortly after tea in controversial fashion as he pulled Edwards and the ball clipped his shoulder to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin. Umpire Russell Tiffin upheld West Indies appeals for a catch to send a disbelieving Kallis back to the pavilion.

Mark Boucher provided a useful ally for De Villiers until bottom-edging a pull shot agaisnt Taylor onto his stumps and Harris went soon after to Dwayne Bravo.

De Villiers finally holed out to mid-on off Taylor and though Andre Nel (34) and Dale Steyn (33) added an entertaining 67 they were only delaying the inevitable.

Smith said the visitors deserved their momentous triumph, adding: "We let ourselves down in the first innings with the ball and with the bat.

"We allowed them to get to a first-innings total that was always going to make it difficult for us to come back from, and then we didn't bat well.

"We didn't get our basics right, and we didn't adapt to the pitch well enough which seems to be a theme with us here."

South Africa - ranked second in the world before the Port Elizabeth Test - look set to ring the changes.

Gibbs's place will come under scurtiny and the experienced Shaun Pollock may return for the two remaining Tests in early January.

New Zealand aim for 3-0, weather permitting

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New Zealand are determined to make a clean sweep of Bangladesh when the two sides meet for the third and final one-day international at the Queenstown Events Centre. Inclement summer weather disrupted practice on the eve of the game and more is forecast on game day, but the mood remained upbeat in the home camp.

The hosts go into the clash having already clinched the series 2-0 courtesy a 102-run D/L method win in Napier but John Bracewell, New Zealand's coach, hoped to build on two wins against Bangladesh after disappointing tours to South Africa and Australia.

"Rhythm, momentum going into the Test series, the goal is to continue building confidence and lift of our performance from the other two games - setting the bar a little bit higher each time," he told the New Zealand Herald. "For us, confidence and self-assessment is extremely important. It's not necessarily important what the opposition is doing, it's what we're doing and I think we can still lift the bar."

After struggling in their last two series, New Zealand's batsman put up runs - albeit expectedly - against Bangladesh, chasing 202 with six wickets left and posting 335 for 5. The bowlers were unable to dismiss an out-of-form Bangladesh batting line-up in Napier but Bracewell put faith in his opening pair, Kyle Mills and Chris Martin. Mills has seven wickets in two games, including 4 for 40 in Napier and Martin has conceded less than three runs an over despite not having taken a wicket. "I've been pleased with the heat with which Chris has bowled. Without Shane Bond, he's our go-to player, and he's still learning the skills [of one-day bowling]," said Bracewell. "He's only played 11 or 12 one-day games [since his debut in 1999] so he's still making the adjustment from that continual line and length at test-match level."

Mark Gillespie, the right-arm medium-pacer, remains a doubt after aggravating his left shoulder in Napier and will be assessed before the match. Michael Mason could get a game on a track that traditionally favours seam bowling. It is unlikely that offspinner Jeetan Patel will play.

A loss to Bangladesh would send New Zealand from third to fourth place on the International Cricket Council's ODI rankings.

Bracewell's opposite number, Jamie Siddons, said his side had no pretensions about upstaging their opposition. "We don't pretend that we're going to compete with New Zealand on a regular basis at this point in time. We are learning, but it's going to take time. They're young players, some are only playing their first or second game of their lives at this level.

"There's a learning curve they have to go through and we're going to suffer some pain. We're suffering that pain now - there's no way around it."

Only Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed and Tamim Iqbal have scored fifties in the series and the middle order has generally come a cropper against seam bowling. With two Tests looming, Bangladesh need to pick up their game.

Dhaka clinch title of Meril Women's Divisional Cricket League

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All-round performance by Papiya Haq enabled hosts Dhaka Division to clinch the title of inaugural Meril Women's Divisional Cricket League outplaying Chittagong Division by eight wickets at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Dhaka Division emerged league champions with six points, Khulna Division became runners-up securing four points from three matches while Rajshahi Division finished 3rd collecting two points.

Chittagong Division ended the four-team league without securing any points.In the day's match, Dhaka Division chose to field first after winning the toss and dismissed Chittagong Division for paltry 74 in 26.1 overs.

Top order Fatema Tuj Zohra scored 27 runs off 61 balls with three fours while number six Champa Chakma was the only other player to reach double figure making 13.

Extras provided 2nd highest 22 runs.Papiya Huq claimed four wickets for nine runs in seven overs and later excelled with the bat to be adjudged player of the match. Lily Rani Biswas took two wickets for 12.In reply, Dhaka Division easily reached their target of 75 runs in 16.5 overs for the loss of two wickets.

After scalping four wickets, Papiya contributed unbeaten 36 runs off 55 balls with three fours.

Skipper Ayesha Akhter was the other not out batsman with 15. None of the Chittagong Division bowlers were able to bag any wicket as Farzana Rahman (7) and Yamin Rupa (0) were both run out.

Chittagong vs Dhaka: Chittagong - 74/10 in 26.1 overs; Fatema 27, Champa 13; Papiya 4/9, Lily 2/12, Shirin 1/0, Yamin 1/9 Dhaka - 75/2 in 16.5 overs; Papiya 36*, Ayesha 15*

Ferguson warns partying players



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Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his Manchester United players they face the axe if they step out of line again.

The Old Trafford manager's comments come in the wake of the lurid headlines which have followed the players' infamous Christmas party.

Ferguson said: "Football has changed but you cannot lose your control.

"We make changes here at Manchester United when we see anyone interfering with that control. When we see this it's time for them to go."

Ferguson has until now refused to comment on the party which lead to player Jonny Evans being arrested and he is said to be furious at the unwanted headlines the pre-Christmas event attracted.

The Scot, whose team surrendered top spot in the Premier League to Arsenal with their shock 2-1 defeat at West Ham on Saturday, added: "Times have changed for me as a manager.

"But this club is based on everyone together. When anyone starts going off at tangents you have to make changes."

Ferguson, who turns 66 on Monday, also accused some of today's top players of being selfish and being obsessed with a celebrity culture.

"What annoys me about some footballers today is the personal glory thing," he added.

"They score a goal and knock players out of the road so they can get personal gratification and play to the fans.

"The present day footballer needs to be noticed with his ear-rings and tattoos. But people in general need to be noticed, it's not just footballers.

"They don't go to small, intimate restaurants, they go to places that are big and bright where you are seen and get noticed. It is difficult to control."

However, Ferguson insisted he has no intention of relinquishing his control of the club, even though November 2008 will see him complete 22 years in charge.

"Absolutely no doubt about that, retirement is not on the agenda," he said.

"The potential of this group of players is the best I have ever had. There is great enthusiasm about the place, a great team spirit and a good drive."

Symonds fear over Pakistan tour



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Australia's Andrew Symonds has voiced his concerns over the March 2008 tour of Pakistan following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto last Thursday.

Cricket Australia has confirmed its commitment to the tour.

But 32-year-old all-rounder Symonds said he was deeply concerned about the level of security in Pakistan.

"I'm not interested in going into a situation that's dangerous, where people are getting killed and hurt," Symonds told Brisbane's Sunday Mail.

"There's no point in that, in my opinion.

"At the end of the day, it's a game of cricket. I take my cricket very seriously and I love playing for Australia but I'm not going to put myself in a situation where I can be harmed. "There's no need, not for a game of cricket. That's how I stand at the moment.

"I'll be closely monitoring things and learning more about how their country is being run from the political side of things.

"You personally choose whether you want to play for Australia. If you're selected, you can choose to decline the offer of going on a tour or playing a game." Speaking on Friday, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said: "There's a commitment to tour Pakistan and we'll be pursuing every avenue for that tour to go ahead.

"At the same time, we have absolutely as top priority the safety and security of our players and employees.

"That is what we'll be focused on as we review all the relevant circumstances."

He continued: "We'll be taking all the necessary advice ahead of the tour so we know whether it's actually appropriate or not to be making that visit."

The Australians are due to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game in Pakistan, their first full tour of the country since 1998.

The 2002 series between the two sides was played at neutral venues in Sharjah and Sri Lanka because of security concerns.

But Sutherland added: "Whether we play in a neutral venue is not up to Cricket Australia, it's a matter for the Pakistan Cricket Board."

Cricket's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, is keen for the tour to go ahead, if at all possible.

"Security can't be guaranteed anywhere," chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

"It's been a long time since Australia has played in Pakistan so there'll be a lot of Pakistani fans who'll be waiting for this great Australian team to come and play against their team.

"I think we just need to let things settle down and then go from there."

Ms Bhutto, a former Pakistan Prime Minister, was killed in a suicide attack during an election rally in Rawalpindi.

According to some witnesses, she was shot in the neck by a gunman, who then set off a bomb which killed at least 20 other people and injured several others.

Australia's recently elected PM, Kevin Rudd, confirmed that time would be taken to fully assess the situation before a final decision about the cricket tour is taken.

"We've already seen evidence of violence in the short period of time that's elapsed since the assassination - in the days ahead we don't know what's to occur.

"Therefore the most responsible course of action is for us to be in the closest possible contact with Cricket Australia so an appropriate, timely, informed decision can be made this particular tour," he added.

There has been no word yet from Zimbabwe cricket officials about their team's tour to Pakistan in January.

Arsenal defeat Everton



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Eduardo da Silva's first Premier League goals helped Arsenal beat Everton and ensured they leapfrogged Manchester United at the top of the table.

Arsenal had to come from behind after Tim Cahill poked in on 19 minutes but Eduardo levelled after the break and coolly slotted another on 58 minutes.

Nicklas Bendtner was then sent off but Emmanuel Adebayor hit a third after a mix-up in Everton's defence. Mikel Arteta saw red after an elbow before Tomas Rosicky scored late on.

Arteta appeared to strike Cesc Fabregas in the face and the 84th-minute incident sparked ugly scenes as players from both sides squared up to each other.

Until that point it had been a game played in a competitive spirit, which for large spells Everton had dominated - particularly in the first half.

Initially, Arsenal were struggling to shrug off their recent sluggishness, while Everton looked confident, assured and exactly like the form team they were going into the match.

Gunner boss Arsene Wenger had opted to shuffle his attack, leaving out Adebayor and bringing in Bendtner.

and Eduardo - a pairing with only one Premier League goal between them.

And the way Everton's midfield, particularly the terrier-like Phil Neville, set about stopping Arsenal's supply line it looked like the tally could well remain the same.

There was no time on the ball for the likes of Fabregas, as Everton played with more snap in their tackles and also constructed the slicker passing moves.

Unfortunately Neville's wild shot did not match the sweet build-up to a chance which included a back heel from Yakubu as Everton swaggered with confidence.

However, Everton had already taken the lead by then at a stage in the match that had more pace than precision about it.

Midway through the opening half, an Everton corner caused a goalmouth scramble and the ball popped up off Bendtner's knee, serving to tee it up for Cahill to poke in.

From then on, the Toffees assumed almost full control as they played with plenty of panache in the pouring rain.

But for all their superiority in terms of possession and territory, Everton failed to create any clear openings.

And almost immediately after the break - just 90 seconds after the restart - they were penalised.

A long ball from Gael Clichy, deep in his own half, caught Everton off guard and Eduardo showed superb composure to collect the ball and stroke a shot into the right corner.

It was a moment defender Phil Jagielka, who looked to have hesitated rather than clear the danger, would have wanted to forget but he was to be terrorised further just minutes later.

This time Jagielka was outsmarted by Eduardo as the Croatia international played the ball one side of him and collected it from the other, before calmly slipping the ball beyond Howard.

Everton could only reflect on a chance for Yakubu moments earlier, when the striker should have put his side 2-1 up but misdirected a header when unmarked in the box.

The action, though, was far from finished and Bendtner was given his marching orders for a second yellow card after a high challenge on Andrew Johnson.

Everton, who had been pushing hard for an equaliser, now had a numerical advantage and clearly sensed they could get back into the game.

But they shot themselves in the foot when Joseph Yobo and keeper Howard left the ball to each other on the edge of the box, allowing Adebayor to steal in and smash the ball into an empty net.

And their misery was compounded when Arteta was also sent down the tunnel after clashing with Fabregas, sparking a mass confrontation.

Incredibly there was still time for Rosicky to finish off an Arsenal counter-attack, zipping a shot into the corner to complete the scoring.

 
 

 
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