The New Nation - Internet Edition

South Africa openers close to record

BBC Online

South Africa openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie put on a unbeaten 405 on day one of the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Smith (223) and McKenzie (169) need nine runs to beat the world record opening partnership in Test cricket.

Choosing to bat first, the pair raced to 92 by lunch and continued to punish Bangladesh bowling attack thereafter.

Smith's fourth double ton is a South African record, while McKenzie's century was his first in seven years.

And on a pitch seemingly custom-made for the batting team, Smith and McKenzie look well poised to surpass the 413 set by India's Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand in Chennai in 1956.

"There are a lot of boys in there happy we won the toss," said Smith.

On a day of records, Smith passed 5,000 Test runs and broke his own record for the biggest opening stand in South African history, which he had set with Herschelle Gibbs against Pakistan in 2003.

McKenzie scored his first century for seven years and looks likely to participate in South Africa's biggest partnership for any wicket.

That mantle is currently held by Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar, who put on an unbeaten 429 for the third wicket against Bangladesh in 2003.

Smith, leading the Proteas for a record 54th time, completed his 14th Test century by cutting Shakib Al Hasan through point.

McKenzie reached his third Test hundred when he smashed Mohammad Rafique for six over long-off.

Rafique dropped McKenzie, on 131, off his own bowling but otherwise the 32-year-old provided Smith with faultless and emphatic support.

Bangladesh, whose captain Mohammad Ashraful used seven bowlers, looked lost for ideas and Smith brought up his double ton by working Mashrafe Mortaza through midwicket for four.

"I have got quite a few double hundreds now, so I know how tough it is to get there," said Smith. "You have to concentrate really hard all the way through

Slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan was the only bowler to emerge with any credit, his 10 overs going for just 33.

"The wicket played really well. Once you get in, it is all about making every run count."

Bangladesh paceman Shahadat Hossain was all praise for the way the South African openers exploited the conditions.

"There was nothing in the wicket for the bowlers. They batted brilliantly throughout the day and did not give us any chances.

"Although we tried very hard, it was simply not our day. Nothing worked for us. We will have to start afresh today."

Sri Lanka edge out Aussies in ODI

BBC Online

A spirited fightback from Sri Lanka's bowling attack saw the tourists claim a consolation CB one-day Series victory over Australia in Melbourne.

Batting first, Mahela Jayawardene (50) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (62) helped Sri Lanka reach 221 after a poor start.

Australia looked on course for the win as Adam Gilchrist (83) and James Hopes (28) put on 107 for the first wicket.

But they lost eight wickets for 101 runs, Ishara Amerasinghe (3-44) guiding Sri Lanka to a 13-run triumph.

Although there was little riding on the match for either side, Australia would have wanted to continue their winning run ahead of Sunday's first of three finals against India in Sydney.

Ricky Ponting's men had won their previous four games in the tournament and, despite losing the toss and being sent out to field, made a fine start as they reduced Sri Lanka to 61-4 inside 20 overs.

Dilruwan Perera fell lbw to Brett Lee, Sanath Jayasuriya - playing his last match in Australia - was taken by Mike Hussey off Nathan Bracken, Kumar Sangakkara sliced to Hussey of Mitchell Johnson and Chamara Kapugedera edging James Hopes behind.

But the tourists, playing for pride alone, staged a spirited fightback with captain Jayawardene putting on 64 with Dilshan before being trapped by Brad Hogg.

Dilshan was run out on 62, while Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan fell cheaply, but Chamara Silva and Nuwan Kulasekara helped Sri Lanka post a competitive total.

Australia were chasing for the first time since their opening match of the series and Ponting would have been hoping for a good showing ahead of the finals.

All looked to be going to plan as Gilchrist, playing at the MCG for the final time, produced a stunning 83 of 50 balls.

But six balls after Muralitharan bowled Hopes, Gilchrist was taken brilliantly by Malinga off Kulasekara at long-off and Australia collapsed.

Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds both fell to Amerasinghe without scoring and, wedged between them, Ponting went lbw to Kulasekara for one.

Brad Haddin was trapped by Malinga, Hussey bowled by Kapugedera and Hogg, another bidding farewell to the MCG, succumbed to Muralitharan.

After Jayawardene produced a superb leap to collect Johnson's thick edge, Lee and Bracken put on 35 before, fittingly, Jayasuria bowled Lee with his first ball as Sri Lanka completed only their second win of the series with 11 balls spare.

China slay Hong Kong to reach final

AFP, China

China moved in for the kill at the world team table tennis championships here Friday, slaying Hong Kong 3- 0 to reach the women's final.

China, boasting the world's top five players, proved too powerful for Hong Kong whose paddlers offered little resistance in a lacklustre semifinal.

Hong Kong's Jiang Hua Jan, who moved from China to play for Hong Kong in 2005, staged a fight in the opener, taking one set off Guo Yue, before the world champion steadied to wrap up the match.

China coach Shi Zhihao said he was satisfied with the performance of his charges and singled out Singapore as their toughest opponents.

China, undefeated at these worlds since 1993, face in the final either Japan or Singapore who play their semi showdown later today.

Hong Kong coach Li Huifen said although she was not making excuses, her team had been unlucky at the worlds, placed in a tough grouping that left her players exhausted by the time they faced China.

"We are very unlucky to face China in the semis, if it was another team then we would probably have advanced to the finals," said Li.

Hong Kong have faced China in the final of the last two worlds, losing both clashes.

China are using these championships as a warm-up for the Beijing Olympics this year when they are expected to sweep up the golds on offer.

The men also take to the tables later Friday for the quarter- finals.

India out for revenge

AFP, Sydney

With the war of words between the sides, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the last triangular one-day series when the finals get underway with a clash between arch rivals Australia and India here on Sunday.

It has been a bitter campaign between the sides, especially since the second Test in Sydney in early January, but the Indians can gain revenge for their 2-1 loss in the Test series by upsetting the home side in the best-of-three finals.

The tri-series concept will be scrapped at the end of this tournament and victory would give Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men evidence to back their claims that they are the challenger to Australia's dominance of world cricket.

There will be no shortage of motivation for the two sides, after all the ill feeling between the sides over the last two months.

The bad blood first surfaced during the second Test, when Harbhajan Singh copped a three-match suspension for allegedly racially abusing Andrew Symonds, a suspension overturned at an International Cricket Council appeal hearing.

This week tensions exploded again, with Ishant Sharma fined for a verbal exchange with Symonds and the Indians countering with a complaint about provocative behaviour by the Australians.

Matthew Hayden then called Harbhajan an "obnoxious weed" on radio and the Indian spinner responded by saying the big opener was one of the least liked players in world cricket. While plenty of words have been exchanged, the Indians notched just one win over the home side in their four qualifying matches and have just one victory from their last 10 one-day games against the Australians.

However, they have taken confidence out of their narrow loss to Australia at their last meeting, also in Sydney, on Sunday.

Set a mammoth 318 to win, India lost by just 18 runs despite a top order collapse.

Encouragingly for India, several of their most important batsmen appear to be hitting their straps at the right time.

Armanitola H/S reach final beating Mirpur Academy 2-0

UNB, Dhaka

Armanitola High School set final clash with Ahmed Bawany Academy in the Dhaka Bank Shaheed Smriti School Hockey Tournament beating Mirpur Academy by 2-0 goals in the 2nd semi-final at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday

The final match between the two neighbouring institutions will be held on Sunday (Mar 2) at the same venue at 3:30 pm.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation president and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman will be the chief guest in the final and distribute the prizes among the winners.

In the day's match, Adnan and Rakib Uddin scored one goal each for the winners, who led the first half 1-0.

Adnan scored first - a field goal - for Armanitola High School in the 19th minute (1-0) while Rakib doubled the margin in the 52nd minute, also with a field goal (2-0).

Earlier, in the 1st semi-final on Thursday, Ahmed Bawany Academy smartly reached the final annihilating Narayanganj High School by 13-0 goals.

Badda Jagarani play goalless draw with Arambagh KS

UNB, Dhaka

Badda Jagarani Sangsad played to a goalless draw with Arambagh KS in the day's lone match of the Metropolis Senior Division Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on Friday.

Both the teams got several scoring chances, but failed to convert any of those into a goal.

Today's matches: Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool vs Wari Club at (Kamalapur) and Mohakhali Ekadash vs Agrani Bank SC (BNS), both at 3:30 pm.

Khelaghar beats Orient SC by 60 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity beat Orient SC by 60 runs in a match of the Metropolis First Division Cricket League at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium on Friday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Khelaghar SKS scored 182 for 9 in in 50 overs with Ishtiaq contributing not out 43. Arif and Moin claimed two wickets each for 19 and 26 runs respectively.

In reply, Orient SC was all out for 122 in 39 overs with Abu Newaz scoring 54 runs. Neaz Morshed grabbed three wickets for 20 runs.

In the day's other matches, Rupali Bank CC (158/10) outplayed Dhanmondi Club (115/10) by 43 runs at the BKSP-1; Indira Road KC (228/6) defeated Kathal Bagan GCC (200/10) by 28 runs at the BKSP-2 and Young Pegasus-B (181/9) beat Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club (176/10) by five runs at the Jahangirnagar University ground.

3 players retain joint lead in Women's Chess after 7th round

UNB. Dhaka

Three players -- defending champion IWM Rani Hamid, WFM Shamima Akter Liza and Nazrana Khan Eva (Manikgonj) -- retained their joint lead in the 29th Aromatic Gold National Women's Chess Championship with six points after the 7th round matches at the Chess Federation hall room on Friday.

In the 7th round matches, Rani Hamid beat WFM Tanima Parveen, Liza beat Jahanara Haque Runu and Eva beat Shamiha Sharmin Shimmi, Sharmin Sultana Shirin, of Narayanganj beat Masuda Begum of Barisal, WFM Syeda Shabana Parveen Nipa drew with WFM Zakia Sultana and Rokshana Titli drew with Arifa Khatun Moni.

Points after 7th round: 6- Rani Hamid, Liza and Eva, 4.5- Shirin, 4- Tanima, Nipa, 3- Zakia, 2.5- Shimmi, Masuda, 2-Titli, 1.5- Moni, and 0- Runu.

The 8th round matches will be held today (Saturday) from 3:00 pm at the same venue.

Premier Division Cricket League begins today

UNB, Dhaka

The Dhaka Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League begins today (Saturday) at separate venues with Abahani Limited taking on Surjo Tarun Club in one of the three opening day matches at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

Former cricketer Shakil Kasem will formally inaugurate the league as chief guest at 9:30 pm.

In the day's other two matches, Mohammedan SC meet BKSP at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) while Sonargaon Cricketers face City Club at the BKSP-2 in Savar.

Twelve teams are taking part in the league. The teams are Abahani Limited, Mohammedan SC, Sonargaon Crciketers, Biman Bangladesh, Victoria SC, Old DOHS, Youngmen's Club, Kalabagan KC, Partex SC, City Club, BKSP and Surjo Tarun Club.

Partial fixture:

March 2

Biman Bangladesh vs Partex SC- Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS)

Victoria SC vs Kalabaghan KC - BKSP-1

Old DOHS vs Youngmen's Club - NOS

March 4

Abahani Limited vs BKSP - DCS

City Club vs Surjo Tarun Club - NOS

Mohammedan SC vs Partex SC - BKSP-2

Jabbar Memorial Tennis competition begins

UNB, Dhaka

Jabbar Memorial Tennis Competition, organised by Engineers Recreation Center (ERC), Dhaka, began on Friday at 4 pm at the Ramna tennis court of ERC (former Engineers Club).

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Post & Telecommunication Brig Gen (retd) engineer MA Malek formally opened the weeklong meet as chief guest.

The competition has eight events -- men's singles and doubles, women's singles, boys' singles (16-year), boys' singles (14-year), mini tennis, team event (above 35 year) and engineers' doubles.

Nineteen teams are taking part in the competition.

Cox's Bazar beat Noakhali DSA 2-1

UNB, Dhaka

Cox's Bazar DSA came from behind to earn a 2-1 goals win to reach the zonal final of the 4th JFA Cup Under-15 Football Championship eliminating Noakhali DSA in the semi-final at the Cox's Bazar Stadium on Friday.

Ariful Islam struck twice - in the 51st and 52nd minutes - for the winners, while Sohan scored for the losers in the 7th minute.

In the day's other match, Kushtia DSA emerged zonal champion to reach the final round beating Bogra DSA by 6-5 goals in tiebreaker in the zonal final at the Pabna Stadium.