The New Nation - Internet Edition

South Africa complete whitewash

BBC Online

South Africa took just over an hour on day four of the second Test to complete victory by an innings and 205 runs and seal a 2-0 whitewash over Bangladesh.

Resuming 54-4, 270 runs behind in Chittagong, Bangladesh lost two wickets in the first full over of the morning.

Mohammad Rafique, in his final Test, succumbed second ball to the left-arm spin of Robin Peterson, who at that stage had 4-8 from seven overs.

Peterson took a maiden five wicket haul as the Tigers were dismissed for 119.

It might have been even more humiliating for the Tigers but for a flurry of boundaries from Abdur Razzak and Shahadat Hossain

They hit 10 fours between them and shared 56 in 12 overs for the eight-wicket, before Hossain tried to loft Peterson over long-off and was caught in the deep.

Peterson, who was hit for 28 in an over by Brian Lara in 2003, was playing his first Test since November 2004.

He quickly ensured his colleagues would have much of the day to themselves by striking with his opening delivery, Mushfiqur Rahim caught at slip, and Rafique scooped back a return catch two balls later.

Skipper Graeme Smith believes his team's success will be of useful value ahead of the three-match Test series in India starting in Chennai at the end of the month.

"It has been fantastic," Smith said of the Bangladesh experience. "The guys will take a lot of confidence before going to India.

"It's nice mentally to get into the right frame of mind when playing in the subcontinent. "This tour has been beneficial so far with all the boys standing up to the challenge."

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful admitted his side had been second best again and said: "Their bowlers bowled a very good line.

"We are still in the learning curve and will try to improve in the days to come," he added.

The two teams will now play a three-match one-day international series, the first beginning in Chittagong on 9 March.

South Africa v Bangladesh second Test scoreboard

BSS, Chittagong

Complete scoreboard of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and South Africa at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium here on Monday:

South Africa 1st innings: 583-7 decl. (G. Smith 232, N.

McKenzie 226; Shahadat Hossain 3-107)

Bangladesh 1st innings: 259 (S. Nafees 69, Shakib Al Hasan 40; Ntini 4-35, Steyn 4-66).

Bangladesh 2nd innings:

Tamim Iqbal c Steyn b Peterson 9

Junaid Siddique c Boucher b Steyn 0

Shahriar Nafees c Kallis b Peterson 31

Mohammad Ashraful c Boucher b Steyn 4

Shakib Al Hasan c McKenzie b Steyn 2

Mushfiqur Rahim c Kallis b Peterson 4

Abdur Razzaq not out 32

Mohammad Rafique c and b Peterson 0

Shahadat Hossain c Prince b Peterson 24

Mashrafe Mortaza c McKenzie b Morkel 4

Extras: (b6, lb1, nb2) 9

Total (for nine wickets) 119

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Siddique), 2-44 (Iqbal), 3-45 (Nafees), 4-49 (Ashraful), 5-54 (Shakib), 6-58 (Rahim), 7-58 (Rafique), 8-114 (Hossain), 9-119 (Mortaza).

Bowling: Ntini 5-3-10-0, Steyn 11-2-35-3, Morkel 4.5-1-21-1 (nb2), Kallis 6-3-13-0, Peterson 13-2-33-5.

Overs: 39.5

Note: Injured Aftab Ahmed did not come out to bat

Result: South Africa won by an innings and 205 runs

Series: South Africa 2-0

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Steve Bucknor (WIS)

TV Umpire: Nadir Shah (BAN)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).

Brothers Union beat Dhaka Wanderers by 4 wickets

UNB, Dhaka

Brothers Union Club registered the 4th victory in their 5th match of the Metropolis First Division Cricket League defeating Dhaka Wanderers Club by four wickets at the City Club ground on Monday. Sent into bat first, Dhaka Wanderers were dismissed for 168 in 49 overs with Sayem scoring 55 and Tanvir 50 runs.

Shahriar and Nuruzzaman picked up four wickets each giving away 21 and 25 runs respectively.

In reply, Brothers Union, relegated last year to the first division league due to their non-participation in the premier division relegation league, scored the match-winning 170 runs for six wickets in 38.3 overs.

Muktar contributed 58 runs. Sony took two wickets for 21 runs.

In another match at the Dhaka University ground, all-round performance by Habib enabled Azad SC to earn the 4th victory in their 5th league match outplaying Lalmatia Club by seven wickets.

Batting first after winning the toss, Lalmatia Club scored 198 runs for 8 wickets in stipulated 50 overs with Golam Mostafa contributing 57 runs.

Habib and Zakir grabbed two wickets each conceding 41 and 44 runs respectively.

In reply, Azad SC easily reached their target making 201 in 38.4 overs for the loss of three wickets with Habib contributing not out 96 and Sajjad 67 runs.

In the day's other match at the Jahangirnagar University ground, Orient SC managed a 13-run win over Agrani Bank to earn their 3rd win in the 5th match.

Sent into bat first, Orient SC scored 184 runs for all in 44.2 overs with Nadim making 61.

Emon captured three wickets for 38 runs while Uttam took two for 16.

In reply, Agrani Bank were dismissed for 171 runs in 44.4 overs with Rumi scoring 39 runs.

Sabuj and Shohag took two wickets each for 26 and 33 runs respectively.

Nokia become sponsors of national football team for 2 ensuing soccer meets

UNB, Dhaka

Multinational cell phone makers Nokia has become the sponsors of Bangladesh national football team for two international soccer tournaments.

Nokia would sponsor the national football team for the ensuing AFC Challenge Cup Qualifying Round and the SAFF Championship, said BFF acting general secretary Manjoor Hossain Malu after signing an agreement with Nokia at the BFF conference room on Monday.

Malu signed the contract on behalf of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), while Nokia Emerging Asia managing director Prem Chand signed for his company. The AFC Challenge Cup qualifying round matches will be held May 5-10 in Kyrgyzstan while the SAFF Championship will be played on June 3-14 in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Under the contract, Nokia would provide financial support and all necessary sports gears for the national booters, Malu said, but declined to specify any amount. "We are very proud of being associated with BFF and hope to continue to sponsor grassroots level of football in the future as well," Nokia Emerging Asia managing director Prem Chand told the reporters.

Prem Chand, a football lover since his childhood, said football is very popular in Bangladesh, more so in the villages. "Bangladesh people are football crazy. For this, reason we have come forward to stand beside football here."

BFF president SA Sultan, vice presidents Abdur Rahim and Sirajul Islam Bacchu were, among others, present at the signing ceremony.

Indians defend Harbhajan after new allegations

AFP, Sydney

Indian officials have leapt to the defence of Harbhajan Singh, who is under investigation after spectators and photographers claimed he made monkey gestures during the win over Australia.

Harbhajan was crucial in Sunday's victory that gave India a 1-0 lead in the tri-series final, claiming the key wickets of verbal sparring partners Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden.

However, it was then claimed he scratched his armpits with both hands in a similar fashion to Indian fans taunting Symonds last year, and also spat at the crowd.

Harbhajan was suspended for three Tests after January's second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground for allegedly calling Symonds a monkey, a suspension that was overturned at a subsequent International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing.

Match referee Jeff Crowe, who last week fined Ishant Sharma for a verbal clash with Symonds-after which India complained of provocative behaviour by the Australians-is investigating the complaints.

Harbhajan could be accused of making a racist gesture under the ICC's code of conduct, but Indian team manager Bimal Soni condemned the reports.

"I think it is wrong," Soni said. "Nothing has been done like that, they are making a mountain out of a molehill.

"He did nothing. These stories, I do not believe them and I strongly condemn them."

Australian batsman Mike Hussey said he knew nothing of the allegations, but added that he was sick of all the controversies of a testing summer.

"I think the Australian and Indian public have had enough of all the controversy," he said. "We just want to concentrate on the cricket."

India, Britain post victories in Olympic qualifying

Reuters, New Delhi

Former champions India and Britain recorded their second straight victories in the men's hockey Olympic qualifying tournament in Santiago, Chile.

Eight-time former champions India overcame early resistance before defeating unfancied Austria 7-3 in a second-round league game on Saturday.

Britain hammered Russia 8-0 in the six-team event. Hosts Chile, who lost to Austria, beat Mexico 4-0 for their first win.

India and Britain are expected to top the standings and clash in the final with the winners qualifying for the 12-team competition at the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Olympics.

India have played in every Olympic hockey competition since 1928.

New Zealand beat Argentina in the final of the first qualifying tournament last month. The third is in Japan in April.

Bangladesh Army beat Jurain Janata Club 84-20 points

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Army earned an easy 84-20 points victory over Jurain Janata Club in the 11th Pran Juice Premier Division Kabaddi League at the Outer Stadium kabbadi court on Monday. The army men, who earned seven creditable `lonas', clearly dominated the first half by 49-7 points.

In the day's other matches at the same venue, Bangladesh Rifles defeated Azad SC by 54-25 points with three lonas (first half 35-13), while Sonali Bank SRC outplayed Fire Services by 33-8 points with three lonas (first half 12-2).

Today's matches: Fire Services vs Bangladesh Navy, Sonali Bank vs Dilkusha SC, Bangladesh Army vs Shaheed Mozaffar Smriti Sangsad, and Jurain Janata Club vs Jatrabari Faruq Smriti Sangsad.

Ayami reaches women's singles semifinal in Jabbar Memorial Tennis

UNB, Dhaka

Ayami of Japan reached the women's singles semifinal of the Jabbar Memorial Tennis tournament, eliminating Ma Hai Ching of Bandarban 6-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinal here Monday.

In the boys' under-16 age group, Yu Sue Sue of BKSP advanced to the semifinal, outplaying Akib Monir of National Tennis Complex (NTC) 6-0, 6-2.

In the boys' under-14 age group, Jamil of NTC beat Sajib Pashi 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 while Rustam defeated Ranjit Pashi by 6-2, 6-2 to reach the event's semifinal. The remaining quarterfinal matches of three events were in progress till filing of the report. But the men's singles matches moved into the quarterfinals on Monday. Amol Roy (Engineers Club) beat Mazharul Islam (NTC) 7-6(5), 6-2, Niranjan Ram (NTC) defeated Nurul Islam (NTC) 6-0, 6-3, Alamgir Hossain (Nordic Club) beat Zakir Hossain (Uttara Club) 6-0,7-5, Delwar Hossain (NTC) defeated Milan (NTC) 6-3, 6-3, Dipu Lal (Nordic Club) Hanif Munna (NTC), Anwar Hossain (British Club) beat Mamun (Dhaka Club) 6-4, 6-4, Ranjan Ram (NTC) beat Asmatullah (NTC) 7-5, 6-2 to reach the men's singles quarterfinals.

Beckham fit, but coach says Shanghai pitch dangerous

AFP, Shanghai

English football star David Beckham is fit to play a full exhibition game in Shanghai, but authorities must first clean up a pitch in terrible condition, LA Galaxy's head coach said today.

"Beckham could play up to 90 minutes, he is fit. We also have to see the circumstances of the pitch, it is not the best one," Rudd Gullit told reporters after training at Shanghai's Outdoor stadium. Beckham is in China's financial hub as part of the Galaxy's three-city Asian tour, amid questions over his fitness after England coach Fabio Capello snubbed him for a game against Switzerland last month.

Capello, former coach of Real Madrid, overlooked Beckham for England's clash against Switzerland on the grounds that the 32-year-old superstar was not in tip-top shape.

The former Real and Manchester United player is still one game short of his 100th international cap, a milestone that only five other Englishman have achieved.

After arriving in Shanghai on Sunday, Beckham told reporters that getting fit enough to play again for England was a top priority.

"All I can do now is to get my fitness and play as many games as possible. We will just have to wait and see," Beckham said.

But whether Chinese fans get to see Beckham lace-up for the Galaxy's clash Wednesday against a Shanghai-Hong Kong team will depend on the hazardous pitch being adequately swept, Gullit said.

"The pitch is in bad shape and dangerous, there were stones and bones, shells, everything was on the pitch. It is pretty difficult to play on it, so I hope they can clean it," he said.

The Galaxy, who begin their regular season in the US at the end of March, lost Saturday in South Korea, failing to come out on top in a penalty shootout to K-League side FC Seoul. Beckham played the entire game in Seoul.

They continue their Asian jaunt in Hong Kong for a match against a South China invitational on March 9.

Beckham also visited China in 2003 and 2005 with Real Madrid on the club's money- spinning Asia tours.