The New Nation - Internet Edition

Women's Cricket final not held; shifted to Monday

UNB, Dhaka

The final match of the Parachute Women's Cricket Tournament between Ispahani Sporting Club and Bangladesh Ansar & VDP could not be held yesterday at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS) due to inclement weather.

The match will now be held on Monday at the same venue.

Earlier, on way to the final, high flying Ansar & VDP beat Ispahani SC by 7 runs in the first final round match and defeated Abahani Limited by 21 runs in the 2nd match.

On the other hand, Ispahani SC conceded a 7-run defeat against Ansar & VDP in the first match, but upset Abahani Limited by 12 runs in the 2nd final round match to ensure the final berth.

Arambagh KS beat Wari Club 1-0

UNB, Dhaka

Arambagh KS registered their 3rd win beating Wari Club by a solitary goal in the Metropolis Senior Division Football League at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium at Kamalapur on Friday.

After a barren first half, Nasiruddin scored the all-important goal for Arambagh KS in the 50th minute.

Veterans Sports Club play 2nd exhibition match today

UNB, Dhaka

Visiting Veterans Sports Club of Kolkata play the 2nd match of the three-match exhibition football with Sonali Otit Club today (Saturday) at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. Earlier, on Thursday, the visitors played to a goalless draw with the hosts in the first match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The visiting team comprising ex-national footballers and former players of Bengal, Mohan Bagan and East Bengal will play the 3rd and last match on Monday at Manikganj Stadium.

V-Day Club Cup Football defer by 3 days

UNB, Dhaka

The Protiti Pharmaceutical Victory Day Club Cup Football Tournament, which was scheduled to begin today (Saturday) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS), has been deferred by three days. As per the revised schedule, the tournament will now begin on January 30 at the BNS at 6pm with Abahani Limited playing Badda Jagarani Sangsad. The remainder of the matches will be bodily shifted.

The Club Cup Tournament Committee in a meeting today (Friday) at the Mohammedan SC premises, in presence of representatives of all the participating clubs, took the unanimous decision to defer the tournament due to unplayable condition of the ground following rain.

Mohammeddan SC general secretary Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, additional general secretary and tournament committee coordinator Mostaqur Rahman and tournament committee chairman Zakaria Pintu were present.

2nd one-day match between BCB Academy and Hong Kong abandoned

UNB, Dhaka

The 2nd one-day match between visiting GP-BCB Academy team and hosts Hong Kong was abandoned due to rain at Kowloon Cricket Club ground on Friday.

Before the match was abandoned, BCB Academy team scored 60 for 3 in 6.4 overs after put to bat first. Left-hand opener Imrul Kayes was batting on 30 off 17 balls. The BCB Academy team, which made a flying start beating the hosts by 71 runs in the first one-day match at the Hong Kong Cricket Club on Wednesday, play the 3rd and last one-day match on Saturday.

at the same venue.

The BCB Academy team, now on a six-day tour to play three one-day matches against Hong Kong, will return home on Sunday.

GP-BCB Academy vs Hong Kong: GP-BCB Academy 60/3 Over - 6.4; Imrul

Kayes 30 off 17 balls.

Plucky India grind down Australia: Australia 0 for 62 (Hayden 36*, Jaques 21*) trail India 526 (Tendulkar 153, Kumble 87, Harbhajan 63, Sehwag 63, Laxman 51, Johnson 4-126, Lee 3-1

Internet

More than 20,000 walked through the turnstiles, many of them hoping to see a Sachin Tendulkar double-century, and a strong riposte from the home side. But Tendulkar fell for 153 halfway through the morning, and Australia's opening batsmen got only 21 overs to show off their wares.

Instead, the story of the day was India's spin duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. They didn't break through with the ball, but a 107-run partnership with the bat helped push India past the 523 they made in their last Test here. Kumble fell 13 short of what would have been his second century, but by then Australia had been kept in the field more than five sessions.

Kumble finished with 87 that spanned 205 balls and more than four hours, while Harbhajan rattled off 63. Both men were caught by Adam Gilchrist, who went past Mark Boucher on the all-time dismissals list, finishing the innings with 414. The celebrations were muted though, with the last man, Ishant Sharma, having helped Kumble to thwart Australia for 123 balls and 58 runs.

Once again, Australia were sloppy in the field. Kumble had just seven when Phil Jaques put down a chance off Brett Lee at short leg. That it was the ball after Tendulkar's dismissal made it even more pivotal. There were just 359 on the board then, and the mistakes only mounted as the day wore on.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey dropped tough chances, while Michael Clarke fluffed a simple return catch offered by Ishant as Australia began to look increasingly ragged. They found redemption only at the end of the day, with some booming drives from Matthew Hayden and some dogged batting from Jaques knocking 62 off the deficit.

India's day had started perfectly, with Tendulkar flicking Lee's first ball for four. And though he was almost run out by Clarke soon after, the positive approach was very evident as 18 came from the first two overs. The overnight partnership was worth 54 when MS Dhoni gave it away with a poor shot. Having slashed Lee for four just minutes earlier, he attempted a repeat against Johnson, only to scoop it straight to Andrew Symonds at deep point.

That setback didn't faze Tendulkar though. Lee was bowling at ferocious pace, and there was the odd awkward fend, but there was also a cut that sped off the bat and past the man at point. A peachy cover-drive took him past 150, but when he inside-edged a pull on to his knee off the next ball, there was a lengthy delay.

After being treated by the physio, Tendulkar resumed guard, but the focus had been disrupted. Lee summoned up another short ball, and this time the miscued hook was taken by Brad Hogg running in from backward square. Tendulkar's innings had spanned 205 balls, and his exit might have been expected to dent hopes of a huge total.

Instead, Kumble played some superb drives off Stuart Clark, while Harbhajan clouted Johnson over mid-on as India added 96 in the first session. Harbhajan did survive two very good shouts from Hogg, but was otherwise the dominant partner in an association that drove Australia to the end of their tether.

The pressure valve was really opened when the spinners came on. Symonds bowled his first over of the match 40 minutes after lunch, and with Hogg on at the Cathedral End, the runs came steadily. Harbhajan smashed Symonds past mid-off to bring up his 50 from 87 balls, and then thumped his chest in celebration.

Kumble joined in, biffing Hogg down the ground for four, and reached his own 50 (135 balls) with a drive down the ground off Symonds. It was his first half-century against Australia, and even when Harbhajan departed for 63 (103 balls), miscuing Symonds for Gilchrist to take a catch running towards square leg, the misery didn't end.

RP Singh chipped Clarke to midwicket to be out for nought, but there was still plenty of time for Kumble and Ishant to add formic acid to the wound. Kumble stroked a lovely cover-drive as 500 came into view, and four leg byes got them there.

Australia finally broke through 11 balls after tea, giving Johnson his fourth wicket of the innings. And despite Hayden's statement of intent, it was once again India's day, with Australia made to struggle like so many of the sides that they've taken toll of down the years.

Villarreal, Barcelona play to scoreless draw in first leg of Copa del Rey quarterfinal

Internet

Villarreal held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw Thursday in the first leg of a Copa del Rey quarterfinal match.

Barcelona, a 24-time winner, dominated the second half but failed to finish several chances created by substitute Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

Second-half goals from Mohammed Tchite and Euzebiusz Smolarek gave Racing Santander a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao earlier Thursday.

Lazio scored two quick goals and beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the first leg of the Italian Cup quarterfinals.

Aleksander Kolarov and Valon Behrami scored within a minute of each other to put Lazio up 2-0 by the 21st and Giampaolo Pazzini replied for Fiorentina in the 40th.

On Wednesday, 10-man Inter Milan and Juventus drew 2-2, 10-man AS Roma and Sampdoria drew 1-1 and Udinese beat Catania 3-2.

Lazio gains narrow advantage

Internet

Two goals in as many first-half minutes ensured Lazio gained a slim advantage from its Coppa Italia quarter-final first leg against Fiorentina with a 2-1 win on Thursday.

The Roman club has endured a miserable Serie A campaign thus far and was dumped out of Europe after finishing bottom of its Champions League group so the cup represents an important shot at silverware.

And things got off to a great start in front of fewer than 10,000 fans at the Stadio Olimpico when Aleksandar Kolarov's 20th-minute strike and Valon Behrami's effort a minute later put Lazio 2-0 to the good.

But Giampaolo Pazzini hit back for the Viola six minutes from time to ensure they would still be firmly in contention come the second leg.

Gilchrist sets world wicket keeping record as batsmen dominate day two

AP, Adelaide

Australia's Adam Gilchrist set a world record for wicketkeeping dismissals Friday as India reached 526 in its first innings and the hosts began strongly in reply on day two of the fourth test.

Gilchrist, in his 96th test, tied the record held by South Africa's Mark Boucher when he caught Harbhajan Singh off Andrew Symonds and then set a new mark of 414 dismissals when he caught Anil Kumble off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson to end India's innings.

He has taken 377 catches and 37 stumpings, gaving him the outright record ahead of Boucher (413) and fellow Australians Ian Healy (399) and Rod Marsh (355). The dismissal ended an impressive rearguard action by the India tail on day two, with Kumble (87) leading a fightback that saw the tourists add 167 runs for the last three wickets.

Kumble, in partnerships of 107 for the eighth wicket with Harbhajan (63) and 58 for the 10th with Ishant Sharma (14 not out), helped guide India from 309-5 at the beginning of the day. Australia began impressively in reply, to be 62-0 at stumps, with Matthew Hayden on 36 and Phil Jaques on 21.

"They have been two very tiresome days for us but I guess it shows the wicket's a nice wicket," Gilchrist said. "Hopefully we can learn from that that we have to make partnerships count, which India did.

"Fortunately we've got through tonight unscathed so we've got a good foundation to work from."

Gilchrist's record came at a time in which his position as Australia's test keeper has been questioned. Critics believe his glovework has lost some of its sharpness and there is support for back-up keeper Brad Haddin to take his place.

India lost two wickets in the first hour Friday including Sachin Tendulkar, who was out for 153 after resuming at 124. Tendulkar was caught in the deep by Brad Hogg off Brett Lee after stroking 13 fours and three sixes in an innings of 338 minutes.

India was still in a vulnerable position when Tendulkar was out at 359-7 but skipper Kumble led the tailend revival. Kumble posted his fourth test half century and his highest score against Australia, eclipsing his previous best of 45 not out. Harbhajan recorded his fifth test 50 and matched his highest score against Australia.

The 107-run stand that frustrated Australia ended when Harbhajan was caught behind an hour after lunch.

R.P. Singh was out for a duck soon after, but Kumble found another dogged partner in No. 11 Sharma who stayed with him for 80 minutes.

Tea was pushed back by 30 minutes as Australia attempted, unsuccessfully, to end the Indian innings; at last doing so 11 balls into the final session when Kumble fell.

Hayden and Jaques batted for 92 minutes before stumps, defying an India attack that must take 20 wickets over the remaining three days if it is to win the test and square the series.

Frenchman Tsonga knocks Nadal out of Australian Open for a shot at title

AP, Melbourne

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had been compared to a young Muhammad Ali only because of an uncanny likeness to the boxing great.

That was until he skipped across Rod Laver Arena, arms up in a biceps-flexing pose, thumbs pointing at his head after knocking out Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and getting a title shot at the Australian Open.

Nadal, ranked No. 2, got a taste of what No. 8 Richard Gasquet, No. 9 Andy Murray and No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny faced in earlier rounds.

Tsonga's groundstrokes were audacious, his hand speed amazing. And he had the Spaniard stumbling well before he aced him on match point. The unseeded Frenchman, hampered by injuries for much of the last three seasons, eliminated Nadal 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. "For me it's a big dream. It's just amazing - I played unbelievable," Tsonga said. "Everything went in. My backhand worked a lot and my serve also. My forehand, my volley, my drop shot, everything. I was moving on the court like never I move, so everything was perfect."

When Nadal tried to counterpunch, Tsonga had an answer - a half volley from ankle height, a powerful backhand or crisp forehand pass.

This was Nadal's worst defeat at a major since his second-round loss to Andy Roddick at the 2004 U.S. Open - 6-0, 6-3, 6-4. All of which means that for the third straight year, an unexpected player is in the Australian final.

Marcos Baghdatis, who edged Tsonga for the world junior No. 1 ranking in 2003, was the surprise finalist in 2006. Chile's Fernando Gonzalez rode his big serve and powerful forehand to the final last year.

Both lost to Roger Federer, who plays No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the other semifinal Friday night. Federer has played in the last 10 Grand Slam finals, including a win over Djokovic in the last U.S. Open final, and is bidding for a 13th major title.

The first championship of the tournament was decided earlier Friday when sisters Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Shahar Peer of Israel 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in women's doubles.

Djokovic was one of three Serbians in the semifinals at Melbourne Park. One advanced and one exited on Thursday. On the women's side, No. 4 Ana Ivanovic was down a set and a break against Daniela Hantuchova before rebounding for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 win to reach her second Grand Slam final. She will meet another 20-year-old player, Russia's Maria Sharapova, who beat Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-1, in Saturday's championship match. Nadal, the only man to beat Federer in the last 10 majors, had no explanation for his performance.

"I was playing fine," Nadal said. "He played unbelievable.

Congratulate him."

Tsonga didn't face any break points until the third set, when he saved three in one game.

"I can't believe some of his volleys," Nadal said. "I tried to play little bit slower; I tried to play a little bit faster; I tried to play more inside the court, behind the court. No chance. Not today."

Tsonga's run of injuries began in late 2004. A herniated disc caused him to miss five months through March 2005. Then came two right shoulder injuries later in 2005, back and abdominal ailments from October 2005 to February 2006 and the reoccurrence of an abdominal injury at the end of 2006.

In all, he played only eight tournaments each in 2005 and 2006.

Yet it's taken him only five majors to make his first final. "It's ridiculous, for sure," Tsonga said. "It's the first time I played this level, and it's here in the semifinal of the Australian Open."

Despite some errant shots, Tiger Woods 2 behind at Buick Invitational

Internet

The score would suggest nothing has changed since Tiger Woods last played the PGA Tour four months ago.

On the South Course at Torrey Pines, which stretches 7,569 yards and played every bit of that length in the chilly, coastal air along the Pacific Ocean, the world's No. 1 player picked off enough birdies to put his name near the top of the leaderboard and finished with a 5-under 67 on the tougher of the two courses at the Buick Invitational.

Noting that the U.S. Open will be held at Torrey Pines in June, one caddie watched Woods complete his round and remarked, "He might have just won two tournaments with one round."

Woods was far from pleased, however.

And he wasn't even in the lead. That belonged to Troy Matteson, who was two shots better than Woods on the South Course with a 65, making him the first player since 2000 to be atop the leaderboard after one round while playing the South.

"I won't top that for a while," Matteson said. Separating them was Brad Adamonis, who shot a 66 on the North, which is where low scores usually are shot. The North is 600 yards shorter with minimal rough, and it played 2 1/2 strokes easier Thursday in the first round.

The attention thrust on Woods is that he has won the Buick Invitational five times, including the last three years. And he piled on the pressure of having a historic year by saying the Grand Slam is "easily within reason."

What surprised Woods is how he arrived at this 67.

His opening tee shot of his 2008 season sailed into a bunker. Another shot left him stymied behind a tree. Yet another was so far left that it cleared the cart path, and Woods had to hook his second shot so severely on the par-5 sixth that he started it out toward the right rough and ended up in the left rough.

All those led to par.

The times he managed to find the fairway, such as No. 4, led to birdie. Two more came on par 3s, and he only played the four par 5s in a 1 under par. But there he was, two shots out of the lead, already getting everyone's attention.

"It wasn't pretty off the tee, but I hung in there," Woods said. "Shooting 67 is always going to feel pretty good on the South Course."

Imagine how it felt for Matteson. He ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine, then finished his round with consecutive birdies to become the first player since Davis Love III in 2000 to have the first-round lead while playing the South. Before that, it was in 1991 when someone starting on the South was in the lead after the first round.

"It's typically a golf course where most guys are just thinking, 'If I can shoot even, 1-under, 2-under and then go to the North Course and really make up my numbers there,' that's kind of your tournament. Guys can shoot 8-, 9-, 10-under on the North Course and then shoot 6-under for the week. So we're looking forward to going to that North Course after playing this one."

Rory Sabbatini, Stuart Appleby and Kevin Streelman, who began the day as the third alternate, were in the group at 67 with Woods. They all played on the North, which is where Matteson and Woods play on Friday.

Phil Mickelson opened his season with a 70 on the North.

Matteson was 11 shots better than his last trip around the South Course. That was the final round a year ago, when he played alongside Woods and watched the world's No. 1 player turn an ordinary round into a winner.

Maybe someone of that rubbed off on Matteson.

"That's an experience that any player would remember," Matteson said. "Anytime you get paired with Tiger, it's very interesting from a crowd standpoint, from a what-he-does standpoint. It's just pretty neat to see the guy shoot 66 on Sunday to win."

Woods wasn't the only person returning to work.

Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman was back in the booth after a two-week suspension for jokingly suggesting young players wanting to take on Woods should "lynch him in a back alley." She recorded an apology that opened the telecast.

That seemed to end a month's worth of troublesome news in golf outside the ropes -- Tilghman's suspension, the firing of a magazine editor for putting a noose on the cover, and the death of popular caddie Steve Duplantis in Del Mar early Tuesday.

But maybe there's more tension to follow.

Woods and Sabbatini were next to each other on the leaderboard for most of the round. They have not spoken since Sabbatini withdrew from the final round of the Woods' charity tournament for what his agent described as shin splints. Sabbatini still got $170,000.

"I haven't talked to him about any of it," Woods said. "It is what it is." Sabbatini donated the money Tuesday to the United Through Reading Military program at a ceremony for sailors at the Navy assault ship USS Boxer. Asked if the money came from his withdraw at the Target, Sabbatini said, "That's what the situation was."

"Unfortunately, the media took a lot of criticism toward me after the event, in that situation I was there," Sabbatini said. "I was tired, and we thought about it, and we thought we'd put it some good use."

Sabbatini was asked to describe his relationship with Woods.

"As far as I understand, there's no animosity," he said. "We're both competitors and we both want to win."

But as he walked out of the interview tent, with Woods waiting to enter, Sabbatini kept his eyes glued to the ground and Woods made no effort to speak to him. Told about the donation, Woods said, "Oh. That's good."

The way the start of this season has gone, it wouldn't be surprising to seem them paired together on the weekend.