The New Nation - Internet Edition

India win to end Australian streak

AFP, Perth

India once again halted a record Australian winning streak with a famous 72-run victory in the third Test against Australia at the WACA Ground here Saturday.

Set 413 to win an unprecedented 17th Test in succession, Australia were dismissed for 340 on the fourth day.

Although several batsmen scored, the home side never really threatened to pull off what needed to be the second biggest run chase in 131 years of Test cricket.

Australia's previous Test defeat was against England during its ill-fated Ashes campaign in August, 2005, at Trent Bridge.

Despite Saturday's victory, India still trails 2-1 in the four-Test series and Australia has retained the Border- Gavaskar Trophy, with the final Test to be played in Adelaide starting Thursday.

With Australian pair Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist fighting to keep the chase alive, an inventive piece of captaincy by Anil Kumble ensured India would win its first ever Test at the WACA.

Kumble's surprise decision to throw the ball to part-time spinner Virender Sehwag just before tea proved masterful, as he claimed two crucial wickets in his first eight balls.

The recalled opener broke the threatening sixth-wicket partnership between Gilchrist and Clarke by bowling the former around his legs with just his third ball.

It ended a 50-run stand between the pair, with the dangerous Gilchrist back in the pavilion for 15.

In his next over, Sehwag (2-24) had Brett Lee caught at mid- off by VVS Laxman for a duck as Australia slumped to 229 for seven.

Any hope the Australians had was extinguished when an advancing Clarke was beaten by Kumble and stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 81.

Clarke was at the crease for 160 minutes and faced 134 balls, hitting eight fours, but his departure left Australia on the brink of defeat at 253 for eight, needing 160 runs more. There was a late flurry from tailenders Mitchell Johnson, who was bowled by a Kumble no-ball and then dropped twice as he lashed out on his way to an unbeaten 50, and Stuart Clark.

However, man-of-the-match Irfan Pathan (3-54) capped a fine return to Test cricket when he had Clark caught behind for 32 to end an entertaining 73-run partnership in 55 minutes consisting almost entirely of leg-side slogs.

When RP Singh (2-95) clean bowled number 11 Shaun Tait for four, the Indians had recorded one of their best wins in recent years and it sparked boisterous celebrations.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was dropped for the third Test to make way for Pathan in what proved to be an inspired decision, and team manager Chetan Chauhan immediately dashed to the middle carrying Indian flags.

The home side initially made steady early progress after resuming at 65 for two, but young paceman Ishant Sharma claimed the prized wicket of Australian captain Ricky Ponting for 45, caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip, to end a 74-run stand with Hussey.

It was due reward for the emerging Sharma, who bowled an impressive nine-over spell.

He used his height to gain good bounce and troubled Ponting consistently as he bowled high pace off cutters that continually jagged back into the batsman.

RP Singh then trapped Hussey LBW for 46 before Symonds was unlucky to be adjudged LBW off an inside edge for 12, Australia 177 for five and struggling.

India broke Australia's previous record 16-Test winning streak when it notched a memorable victory in Kolkata in 2001.

Australia hadn't lost a home Test since December 2003, also against India in Adelaide, and was last beaten at the WACA by the West Indies in 1997.

Abahani Ltd beat Digital Vision by 11 runs:Ispahani SC earn 3rd consecutive win

UNB, Dhaka

Ispahani Sporting Club registered third consecutive victory in the Parachute Women's Open Cricket Tournament beating Narail District Women's Club by huge 277 runs at the Bir Shreshtha Motiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna on Saturday.

In the day's other matches, Abahani Limited defeated Digital Vision Women's team by 11 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Khulna Women's Cricket Academy beat Chuadanga Women's XI by 20 runs at the Khulna Stadium while Jahangirnagar University earned 69-run win over Tetulia Cricket Club at the Dhanmondi Club ground.

Winning the toss, Ispahani SC batted first to amass 314 for 2 in stipulated 35 overs. Opener Shuktara Rahman contributed 91 runs off 112 balls with eight fours to be adjudged player of the match. Surprisingly, innings highest 127 runs came from extras.

In reply, Narail District Women's Club were bundled out for just 37 runs with highest 21 runs coming from extras. No Narial batsmen could reach double figure.

Sent into bat first at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Abahani Limited scored 109 runs for all in 33.2 overs. Opener Papiya Haq scored team highest 30 runs off 62 balls with one boundary to be adjudged player of the match for the second successive occasion.

Chasing an easy target, Digital Vision Women's team were all out for 98 in 33.1 overs.

Abahani Ltd - 109/10 in 33.3 overs; Papiya 30, Laily 11; Sathira 4/18, Champa 2/13

Digital Vision Women's Cricket - 98/10 in 33.1 overs; Sathira 28, Ajmery 20; Rupa 3/24, Reshma 2/3, Papiya 2/9

At the Dhanmondi Club ground, Jahangirnagar University batted first after winning the toss and scored 205 for 4 in quota 35 overs. Two down Monisha scored 48 runs off 61 balls with seven boundaries.

In reply, Tetulia Women's Cricket Club were dismissed for 136 runs in 24.3 overs with opener Shahida contributing 18 runs in 33 balls that included three fours.

Fatima of the JU team, who scored 45 runs and took three wickets for 11 runs, was adjudged player of the match.

Brief Score: Jahangirnagar University - 205/4 in 35 overs; Monisha 48, Fatima 45; Shelly 2/44.

Tetulia Women's Cricket Team - 136/10 in 34.3 overs; Shahida 18, Baby 14; Fatima 3/11, Tania 3/27.

At the Khulna Stadium, Khulna Women's Cricket Academy won the toss to score 151 for all in 33.2 overs. Later, they restricted Chuadanga Women's XI to 131 for six in allocated 35 overs.

Bangladeshi boys start well in Asian Tennis 14/U championship

UNB, Dhaka

Three Bangladeshi boys moved to the second round of the Mobil ITF Asian Tennis 14/U championship winning their respective boys' singles Group II opening matches at the Ramna National Tennis Complex on Saturday.

In the boys' singles, Hasibul Haque of Bangladesh beat Hussein Hasan of ITF team 6-2, 6-1; Sajib Passi of Bangladesh defeated Tandin Mangchuk of Bhutan 6-3,6-2; and Biplob Ram of Bangladesh blanked Wangchuck Gyalpo of Bhutan 6-0, 6-0.

In the girls' singles, Sharda Sharmin of Bangladesh advanced to the 2nd round beating Gurung Pawitra of Nepal 6-4, 6-3.

Long jumper Al Amin leaves for Malaysia for high performance training

UNB, Dhaka

Long jumper Al Amin leaves here Saturday night for Malaysia to receive high performance training.

Al Amin would undergo four-month training in Kuala Lumpur under an International Olympic Committee (IOC) scholarship, Bangladesh Athletics Federation general secretary Mosharaf Hossain Shamim told UNB.

He is the 3rd athlete of the country to receive training in Malaysia after SAF gold medal-winners Mahfuzur Rahman Mithu and Sumita Rani Das.

Army clinch Super-Four Volleyball title beating Navy by 3-2 sets

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Army clinched the President Cup Super-Four Volleyball title with all-win record beating Bangladesh Navy 18-25, 25-20, 21-25, 27-25, 16-14 in a keenly-contested final at the Dhaka Volleyball Stadium on Saturday.

Mofiz of Army won the award for best attacker, Nazrul of Army for the best defender, while Nazrul of Navy for the best setter.

Managing Director of National Bank Limited Abdur Rahman Sarker witnessed the day's final as chief guest and later distributed the prizes.

Bangladesh Volleyball Federation President Golam Quddus Chowdhury Babu and general secretary Anisur Rahman were present.

Sunrise SC beat Dipali Jubo Sangha 2-0

UNB, Dhaka

Sunrise SC tasted their 1st win beating Dipali Jubo Sangha by 2-0 goals in a match of the Metropolis Senior Division Football League at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium at Kamalapur on Saturday.

Sajedul Islam Shanta put Sunrise SC ahead early in the 9th minute (1-0) while Anwar Hossain Babul increased the winners' margin in the 61st minute (2-0).

In the day's other match, Badda Jagarani Sangsad played to a goalless draw with Agrani Bank SC at the same venue.

Today's matches: Victoria SC vs Wari Club (1 pm), Dhaka Wanderers Club vs Mohakhali Ekadash (3 pm), both at the same venue.

Maxcom athletics competition begins: Sumita Rani set national record in hurdles

UNB, Dhaka

The First Maxcom Athletics Competition, organised by Bangladesh Athletics Federation, began at the Banani Army Stadium on Saturday with one national record set on the first day.

Sumita Rani Das created the new national record in the 100-meter hurdles clocking 14:00 seconds to better the previous mark of 14:28 seconds.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president and Chief of General Staff of Bangladesh Army Maj Gen Sina Ibn Jamali formally inaugurated the two-day competition in the morning as chief guest.

Mohammad Shamsuddin of Bangladesh Air Force emerged as the fastest man while Nazmun Nahar Beauty of BJMC the fastest woman clinching the 100-meter sprint titles.

After the first day, Bangladesh Army dominates the meet with five gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals.

Bangladesh Ansar follows with five gold, three silver and two bronzes, BKSP won three gold and three silver while Bangladesh Air Force bagged three gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

DC Cup School Kabaddi advances to semifinals

UNB, Dhaka

Bir Shrestha Munshi Abdur Rouf Rifles School & College reached the semifinals of the Dhaka DC Cup School Kabaddi Tournament eliminating Segun Bagicha High School by 66-12 points at the Outer Stadium Kabaddi court here on Saturday.

The winners, which led the first half by 29-5 points, also earned five creditable lonas.

In today's semifinals, Rifles School and College will play Dhalpur High School at 2:30 pm while Ansar & VDP High School meet Nawabpur Govt. High School at 3.10pm at the same venue.

The final match will be held on Monday at 3:30pm.

Seeds tumble out of Australian Open

AFP, Melbourne

World number two Svetlana Kuznetsova became a shock casualty on day six of the Australian Open on Saturday, with sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze also sent skidding out of the tournament.

The defeat of Kuznetsova, a former US Open champion, by Polish teenager Agneiszka Radwanska was the biggest upset yet on the women's side of the draw, with three of the top 10 seeds now gone by the third round.

Two top men's seeds have fallen-ninth seed Andy Murray and sixth seed Andy Roddick, who was dumped out in the early hours today in a bad-tempered five-set marathon by Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Eighteen-year-old Radwanska, ranked 28 in the world, said she was on a mission to avenge three losses to Kuznetsova last year, and fulfilled her orders, 6-3, 6-4.

"I played against her a few times, always losing, so I said 'no more'. "It's very exciting, I'm very happy," said Radwanska, who has a fourth round match against either Russians Nadia Petrova or Ekaterina Makarova.

A devastated Kuznetsova blamed herself for blowing her chances.

"I've got to learn to do it right way next time during Grand Slams. Every day you live and every day you are learn."

With rain delaying play on the outside courts at Melbourne Park, the early action was restricted to the Rod Laver and Vodafone Arenas, which have retractable roofs.

At the Rod Laver, Chakvetadze let slip a one set lead against 27th seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko, a childhood friend, crashing 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-2.

"It was a really tough match, in the first set I was a little bit unlucky and I decided to tell myself 'Maria, come on, keep working, fight for every point' and I did it and I'm so happy," said Kirilenko.

"Usually, I'm losing my third match in a Grand Slam so I'm happy the tradition is broken, and I'm in the fourth round."

She now plays either the Slovak Republic's Daniela Hantuchova or Spain's Virginia Ruano-Pascual.

World number one Roger Federer's sprint towards a third consecutive title resumes when he plays Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic, but the day's marquee match is between Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

It has added spice after Baghdatis became embroiled in a race controversy on Friday after videos surfaced of him chanting anti-Turkish slogans with a Greek supporters group involved in crowd trouble on Tuesday.

National Gymnastics Championship begins

UNB, Dhaka

The 30th National Senior and 19th National Junior Gymnastics Championship began on Saturday at the National Sports Council (NSC) gymnasium.

Bangladesh Ansar dominated the meet securing two gold, one silver and two bronzes, followed by Dinajpur DSA with one gold and one silver while BKSP were in the third slot with one silver and a bronze on completion of the day's three events when last report came in.

Earlier, NSC Secretary Mohammad Akbar Hossain inaugurated the four-day meet in the morning. Youth and Sports Secretary Dr. Mohammad Golam Mustafa Talukder will be the chief guest at the closing function on Tuesday.