The New Nation - Internet Edition

BCB XI make sensational tie with South Africa

Sports Reporter

BCB XI registered a sensational tie with visiting South Africa in their one-dayer warm-up match at the Chittagong Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium on Friday.

Batting first, BCB XI posted a fighting 243 for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then the youngsters restricted South Africa to 243 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.

Opener Tamim Iqbal hit a modest 30 facing 40 deliveries including five fours and a six.

Bangladesh lost their early three wickets for 61 runs. Later, Rafiqul Hassan and Shakib Al Hasan repaired the damage adding together 58 runs in the fourth-wicket stand before Shakib was caught by Andre Nel off Johan Botha when the team's total was 119 for the loss of four wickets. Shakib notched up a brilliant 32 of 41 balls amid four fours.

After dismissal of Shakib, Raqibul Hasan's innings was short-lived. He was unfortunately run out by JP Doming making 33 from 50 deliveries.

Number Eight batsman Mahmudullah Riyad was remained undefeated with his team's highest of 37. He played 33 deliveries which knock was studded with two fours and a six.

Besides, Naeem Islam, wicketkeeper-batsman Dhiman Ghosh, Farhad Reza and Nazim Uddin added 30, 20, 20 (not out) and 18 runs respectively to the BCB XI total.

Paul Harris of South Africa bagged a pair of wickets giving away 30 runs.

Dale Steyn, Andre Nel, Morne Morkel, John Botha took one wicket apiece.

Later, skipper graeme Smith notched up the day's highest of 70. He struck nine fours and a six in his 82-ball innings.

Albi Morkel was the other successful batsman for South Africa. He hit a fine 57 using 53 balls with three sixes and two fours.

Besides, John Botha and JP Duminy added 34 and 25 to the visitors total.

Mosharrof Hossain Rubel shone with the cherry claiming three wickets in the space of 19 runs while Rubel Hossain chipped in with two wickets in lieu of 21 runs.

Besides, Naeem Islam and Syed Rasel scalped one each for 38 and 46 runs respectively.

New Zealand spinners make England toil

Reuters, Hamilton

England, tied down by accurate New Zealand spin bowling, crawled to 286 for six at the close on the third day of the first test on Friday.

The touring side trailed their hosts by 184 runs with two days to play. Paul Collingwood was unbeaten on 41 with debutant Tim Ambrose on 23 at the close after Michael Vaughan (63), Andrew Strauss (43), Ian Bell (25) and Kevin Pietersen (42) were dismissed during the day.

England scored at barely two runs per over as New Zealand bowled a tight line and length with spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel extracting prodigious turn and steep bounce from the pitch.

Vettori finished with figures of two for 60 off 38 overs and Jacob Oram conceded only 18 runs from 16 overs. Of the 93 overs bowled in the day, 34 were maidens.

"The conditions didn't allow for the free flowing batsmen to go out there and score runs," Pietersen told reporters. "If a few of us had played our normal game and got out for 10 or 15 or single figures we could have been in a lot of trouble sitting here tonight.

"We got asked to bat the whole day. We got asked to fight and to scrap, and we did. To lose just four wickets in an entire day is a fantastic effort."

TIED DOWN

The naturally aggressive Pietersen, who smashed his third ball for six, was tied down by the bowlers and exhibited signs of frustration at his inability to push the scoring along.

He was eventually dismissed when a Vettori delivery ballooned off his pad from his bat and the New Zealand captain took a diving return catch.

Pietersen's 42 came off 131 balls, a strike rate of 32.06, less than half his career record of 64.68 runs per 100 balls.

Scoreboard

Scoreboard at close of the third day of the first cricket Test between New Zealand and England at Seddon Park here Friday.

New Zealand 1st innings 470 (R. Taylor 120, J. How 92, D. Vettori 88; R.

Sidebottom 4-90, P Collingwood 2-42)

England 1st innings

A. Cook c sub (Horsley) b Martin 38

M. Vaughan c McCullum b Patel 63

M. Hoggard c Fleming b Martin 2

A. Strauss b Vettori 43

K. Pietersen c & b Vettori 42

I. Bell b Mills 25

P. Collingwood not out 41

T. Ambrose not out 23

Extras (b 3, lb 1, nb 5) 9

Total (6 wickets; 134 overs) 286

Fall of wickets: 1-84 (Cook), 2-86 (Hoggard), 3-130 (Vaughan), 4-159 (Strauss), 5-203 (Bell), 6-245 (Pietersen)

Bowling: Martin 24-10-53-2, Mills 21-6-61-1, Patel 35-10-90-1 (1nb), Oram 16-8-18-0, Vettori 38-13-60-2 (4nb)

Final round of 4th JFA Cup begins March 11

UNB, Dhaka

The final round of the 4th JFA Cup Under-15 Football Championship will begin on March 11 (Tuesday) at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium with two matches scheduled for the day.

On the day, BKSP will play Khulna DSA at 2:30 pm while Cox's Bazar face Moulvibazar DSA at 4:15 pm.

Twelve teams, spit into two groups, will take part in the final round. Two top teams from each group will play the semifinals on March 22, while the final match of the championship will be held on March 24.

Teams: BKSP, Cox's Bazar, Narayanganj, Moulvibazar, Khulna DSAs (group A), and Dhaka, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Kushtia and Bhola DSAs (group B).

Partial fixture:

Mar 12 - Dhaka DSA vs Bhola DSA 2:30 pm

Rajshahi DSA vs Kushtia DSA 4:15 pm

Mar 13 - Narayanganj DSA vs BKSP 2:30 pm

Moulvibazar DSA vs Khulna DSA 4:15 pm

Mar 14 - Dinajpur DSA vs Dhaka DSA 2:30 pm

Kushtia DSA vs Bhola DSA 4:15 pm

Mar 15 - Cox's Bazar DSA vs Narayanganj DSA 2:30 pm

BKSP vs Moulvibazar DSA 4:15 pm

Semifinal line up of Mini Handball Tournament completed

UNB, Dhaka

Four schools -- Sunny Dale, Maple Leaf International, Scholastica and Ispahani Girl's School --advanced to the semifinals of the KFC-Pizza Hut Mini Handball Tournament (Girls) winning their respective matches at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex on Friday.

In the Saturday's first semifinal, Sunny Dale meets Maple Leaf International School while Scholastics faces Ispahani Girls School in the 2nd semis.

The final match and the 3rd place decider will also be held later in the afternoon.

In the Friday's matches, Sunny Dale crushed Canadian International School by 19-1 goals after leading the first half 11-1.

In the other matches, Maple Leaf International School outplayed Play Pen by 8-3 goals and Radiant International School by 6-0 goals, Siddiqui's International School defeated Canadian International School by 4-2 goals, BIS beat Dhanmondi Tutorial by 5-1 goals while Viqarunnisa Noon School & College defeated Loretto School by 4-0 goals.

Super six, relegation matches of Senior Division football begins

UNB, Dhaka

The super six and relegation league matches of the Metropolis Senior Division Football began simultaneously on Friday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) and Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium (BSSSMMS) at Kamalapur.

In the super six opener, league leaders Youngmen's Club beat Dhaka Wanderers Club by 3-1 goals at the BNS

Sakhawat Hossain Rony scored two goals - in the 17th and 23rd minutes - and Khalil Ahmed one in the 80th minute for the winners. Hirok Joardar netted the lone goal for the losers in the 85th minute.

In the relegation league opener, Agrani Bank SC played to 2-2 draw with Dipali Jubo Sangha at the Kamalapur stadium.

Chandrim Rakhain struck twice - in the 49th and 87th minutes - for Agrani Bank SC while Milon and Suman scored one goal each in the 9th and 89th minutes for Dipali Jubo Sangha.

Today's matches: Super Six - Victoria SC vs Badda Jagarani Sangsad (BNS); Relegation League - Arambagh KS vs Mohakhali Eleven (Kamalapur stadium), both at 4pm.

Sadharan Bima outplays Indira Road

UNB, Dhaka

Sadharan Bima KS outplayed Indira Road KC by 7 wickets in the Metropolis First Division Cricket League by D/L method in a rain-interrupted match at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) on Friday.

Coin favoured, Indira Road KC batted first to score 187 for 8 in the stipulated 50 overs with Rubel contributing 58. Manik made second highest 49.

Sathil and Ashiqur claimed three wickets each.

In reply, Sadharan Bima KS scored 125 for 3 in 21.3 overs when rain stopped the play. Rajib contributed 41 while Saidul remained unbeaten on 37.

The day's other three rain-marred matches were also decided by D/L method as Bangladesh Boys (110/3) outclassed Young Pegasus B (127/10) by 7 wickets at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS), Agrani Bank CC (160/5) beat Khelaghar SKS (165/10) by five wickets at the BKSP ground-1 while Dhaka Wanderers Club (198/9) defeated Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club (203/10) by 1 wicket at the BKSP ground-2.

Bangladesh Air Force beat Jatrabari KC

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Air Force beat Jatrabari KC by 11-5 points in a match of the 11th Pran Juice Metropolis Premier Division Kabaddi League at the Outer Stadium kabaddi court on Friday.

In the day's other matches at the same venue, Bangladesh Navy defeated Sonali Bank SC 24-8 with two creditable `lona' and Shaheed Mozaffar Smriti Sangsad outplayed Jurain Janata Club 21-16 with one `lona'.