The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh reach quarterfinal of U/19 World Cup beating Ireland

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh reached the quarter-final of the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup with one match in hand beating Ireland by eight wickets at the Bayueams Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

The Young Tigers, who made a flying start outplaying Bermuda by huge 178 runs in their first match last Monday, will play the remaining group match against another quarterfinalist England on Friday (Feb 22) to decide the Group D champions at the Royal Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur.

Sent into bat first, Ireland were all out for 123 in 43.4 overs against devastating bowling by Mahmudul Hasan, who grabbed four wickets for 17 in 6.4 overs with a maiden. Later, Hasan was adjudged man of the match.

After the dismissal of top four wickets for 45 runs in 16.4 overs, middle order JNK Shannon tried to rebuild the Ireland innings with patient 31 runs off 73 balls that included four fours. But failed in his attempt, caught by Ashiqul Islam off a Rubel Hossain delivery leaving team total at 87 for 7 in 31.4 overs.

Besides, lower order GJ Thompson (19), middle order A Balbirnie (11) and opener C Dougherty (11) were the other Irish batsmen who reached double figures.

Apart from Mahmudul Hasan's four-wicket haul, Rubel Hossain bagged two wickets for 32 runs while Nasir Hossain, Shubashish Roy and Dollar Mahmud took one wicket each for 13, 16 and 22 runs respectively.

Chasing an easy target, the Young Tigers made a solid start scoring 63 runs in the opening stand and finally reached the target making 126 for the loss of two wickets in 22.3 overs.

In the day's (Wednesday) other matches, hosts Malaysia upset Zimbabwe by 70 runs at MPTI ground, West Indies outplayed Papua New Guinea by 176 runs at the Royal Selangor Club ground while Sri Lanka defeated Namibia by 163 runs at the University Sains Malaysia.

Today's matches: New Zealand vs Malaysia, South Africa vs Papua New Guinea, Nepal vs Namibia, and Bermuda vs Ireland.

West Bengal team arrives in city

UNB, Dhaka

The West Bengal team of India arrived here on Wednesday to participate in the second Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games that begins Friday (Feb 22) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will inaugurate the five-day meet in the afternoon at a gala opening ceremony with hosts Bangladesh eyeing 40 out of 67 gold medals at stake

Some 469 athletes and officials, including 231 from West Bengal, will battle for 67 gold medals of the game's second edition in nine disciplines -- athletics, swimming, shooting, basketball, volleyball, kabaddi, kho kho, football and cricket.

The 231-member West Bengal team reached Bangladesh in two batches. A 204-member team led by deputy chef-de-mission Kamol Bhandaria, with the athletes and officials of eight disciplines of sports, reached Bangladesh by road through Benapole border in the morning.

The rest of the team with chef-de-mission Zulfiqar Hasan, secretary general of Bengal Olympic Association Kamolesh Chatterjee and the Bengal Cricket team reached the capital in the morning by air.

UNB Benapole correspondent adds, the West Bengal contingent was given warm reception here soon after their arrival at about 10:30 am.

BOA deputy Secretary General Ishtiaque Ahmed Karen, additional Deputy Commissioner Hawlader Zakir Hossain, Lt Col Badrul Huda of BDR, additional Police Super Quamruzzaman and Customs Commissioner Abdul Kafi received the team with bouquet.

National anthem of both India and Bangladesh were played at the reception function.

On way to capital Dhaka, the West Bengal team was also accorded receptions at five other points -- Jessore, Magura, Faridpur, Rajbari and Manikganj.

Boys and girls from different schools of the adjoining areas received the visitors with flowers, cultural show and offering sweets. Some members of the West Bengal team also sang songs.

Of the nine disciplines, both men's and women's events have been included in four disciplines -- football, shooting, athletics and swimming. Cricket, the most favourite game in the subcontinent, has been included in the ensuing Games for the first time.

The two-nation sports festival will open through a four-and-half hour gala opening ceremony starting at 3:30 pm with the arrival of the chief guest, followed by landing of four paratroopers of Bangladesh Army carrying the flags of Bangladesh, India, BOA and Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games.

BOA President and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed and BOA Secretary General will address the ceremony before the Chief Adviser, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, declares the meet open.

Popular band star Ayub Bachchu will present the theme song written by Major (retd) Anis while the opening ceremony will also feature a 10-minute laser show.

Performers of Shilpakala Academy will present traditional songs and dances during the 30-minute function prior to massive fireworks at the country's premier stadium.

Artistes of Kolkata cultural teams will stage a 20-minute show.

A live concert, led by Ayub Bachchu, will be another attraction of the opening ceremony. The concert will begin at 6:30 pm at the big bowl.

Bangladesh face South Africa in 1st test tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh faces strong South Africa in the 1st test of the two-match Warid Test Series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur on Friday, hoping to play competitive cricket.

During the month-long engagement, Bangladesh will play the 2nd test against the visiting Proteas on Feb 29-March 4 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSSRAS) in Chttagong.

After the two tests, a three-match ODI series between the two sides will begin on Match 12 at BSSRAS in Chittagong. The 2nd and 3rd ODIs will be held on March 12 and 14 at the SBNS in Dhaka.

Bangladesh goes into the 1st test following a dismal record of heavily losing all the last four test matches against South Africa since 2002.

But, this time, Bangladesh with home ground advantage have a good opportunity to play positive cricket. South Africa captain Graeme Smith also thinks that the hosts would get extra home ground advantage playing in their own conditions.

Ahead of the Friday's test, Bangladesh gave a hint of playing fighting cricket against the visitors as they played some good cricket with South Africa in the only three-day warm-up match that ended in draw at Narayanganj Osmani (Fatullah) Stadium on Wednesday.

Bangladesh have a memorable record of winning one out of their eight ODI encounters against South Africa. In the last World Cup, Bangladesh inflicted a 67-run defeat on South Africa in a super-eight match held in Guyana.

But South Africa captain Graeme Smith brushed aside talks of revenge, saying that his team is more interested in focussing on their coming fixtures.

He said they would play good and competitive cricket in both test and ODI series against Bangladesh.

It is obvious that the visitors' prime target here is to win both test and ODI series against Bangladesh. They come here after winning all the last three series - against Pakistan (test 3-1 & ODI 3-2), New Zealand (test 2-0 & ODI 3-1) and West Indies (test 2-1 & ODI 5-0).

South Africa underwent some hard practice on Wednesday morning at the match venue while Bangladesh will make practice today (Thursday) morning.

Bangladesh-South Africa Warid Cricket Series:

Feb 22-26 - 1st test - Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS);

Feb 29-March 4 - 2nd test Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSSRAS) in Chttagong.

March 9 : 1st ODI at BSSRAS, Chittagong

March 12: 2nd ODI at SBNS, Mirpur, Dhaka

March 14: 3rd ODI at SBNS, Mirpur, Dhaka

Shaheed Smriti Hockey Armanitola, Mirpur record wins

Sports Reporter

Armanitola High School and Mirpur Academy won their respective matches of the Dhaka Bank Shaheed Smriti Hockey Competition on Wednesday.

In the day's second match, Armanitola blanked Dr Md Shahidullah Biddyapith 12-0 at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.

Armanitola dominated over their opponents by seven goals to nil in the first half.

Naeem of Armanitola scored three goals while Afsar, Rashid, Adnan netted two each and Raquib Galib, Shahed struck one time each on the board.

In the day's other match, Mirpur Academy beat Jinjira High School by two goals to one at the same venue.

Mirpur led the first half 1-0.

Jabed and Tushar of Mirpur Academy scored one goal each while Rafiqul of Jinjira pulled off one.