The New Nation - Internet Edition

MSC, Biman take joint lead

UNB, Dhaka

Mohammedan SC and Biman Bangladesh maintained their all-win run to take a joint lead in the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League beating their respective opponents after the 4th round matches at separate city venues on Friday.

In the day's another match, Old DOHS managed to have a hard-fought three-run win beating Surjotarun Club at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium.

With the day's feat, the popular Mohammedan SC and Biman Bangladesh have been at the top of the league table securing eight points to be followed by Dhanmondi outfit Abahani Limited with seven points, all playing four matches.

Riding on a two superb half centuries by openers Emrul Kayes and Imtiaz Hossain, Mohammedan SC notched an emphatic 10-wicket win over Victoria SC at the BKSP ground-2.

Favoured by coin, Victoria SC were all out for 140 in 44.3 overs in the face of a strict bowling attack by the Mohammedan SC. Mahmudullah (31), Nasiruddin Faruk (19) and Ehsanul Haq (17) were the notable scorers for Victoria SC.

Suhrawardy Shuvo claimed four wickets for 21 runs while Monjurul Islam, Tareq Aziz and Tapash Baishya bagged two wickets each for 16, 23, 35 runs respectively.

In reply, Mohammedan SC easily reached their target making 142 runs for no loss in 28.5 overs with Emrul Kayes contributing 79 and Imtiaz Hossain 61.

At Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Biman Bangladesh beat Sonargaon Cricketers by 15 runs.

Batting first after winning the toss, Biman posted 247 for 8 in stipulated 50 overs with national discard Alok Kapali contributing 91 runs.

Nafis Iqbal (53) and Mahbubul Alam (35*) were the other scorers for Sonargaon Cricketers. Mohammad Azim captured three wickets for 53 runs while Elias Sunny bagged two for 55.

In reply, Sonargaon Cricketers were all out for 232 in 42.1 overs with Mehrab Hossain scoring 78 and Mohammad Sharifullah 74.

Ahsanullah Hasan hauled three wickets for 36 runs while Ijaj Ahmed, Alok Kapali and Nabil Samad claimed two wickets each for 36, 38 and 41 runs respectively.

At Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Old DOHS scored 202 for 9 in stipulated 50 overs after they were sent in to bat first.

National discard Rajin Saleh contributed 86 runs while Mehrab Hossain and Monir Ahmed made 36 and 20 runs respectively for OLD DOHS. Delwar Hossain grabbed four wickets for 34 runs while Nasim bagged two for 36.

Chasing the target, Surjotarun Club were restricted at 199 for 7 in 50 overs. Shamsur Rahman (62), Nayeem Islam (58) and Khaled Masud (32*) were the notable scorers for Surjotarun Club. Monir Ahmed and Monir Hossain took two wickets each for 35 and 49 runs respectively.

Ashraful blames irresponsible batting for poor show

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful Friday said they could not put up a good show even in the 3rd match of the Warid ODI Series against South Africa due to irresponsible batting by his batsmen.

"The scorecard (batting) suggests it was a very bad day for us and this happened due to our irresponsible batting," Ashraful told a post-match press briefing.

Bangladesh were outplayed by 7 wickets to concede a 0-3 sweep against Proteas at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

"My confidence level is not down and the captaincy isn't creating any pressure on my batting. I just couldn't score runs…couldn't play a big innings," the Bangladesh skipper said in response to a query.

Asked to evaluate the performance of the hosts in the series, the top-order right-hand batsman said, "We dominated the game in the first two days of the first test and once were in a position to win the match. But, the visitors were even better to win the first and the 2nd test matches."

"In ODIs there could have been a good fight had the batsmen been able to put up good scores in our condition," he added.

Replying to another query, Ahraful said they are trying to build a new side eyeing the 2011 World Cup and that is why four new players were given the opportunity to make their debut.

The out-of-form Bangladesh skipper, who fetched 36 runs in his last five innings, expressed his optimism to show a good result in the upcoming three-match home series against Ireland, arriving here Saturday.

On the other hand, jubilant Proteas skipper Graeme Smith, whose side today overlapped Australia to grab the number 1 ODI spot said, "Obviously winning both the test and ODI series is a great feeling. We started in Pakistan with a successful tour in the subcontinent and then here (Bangladesh). We played some outstanding cricket and as a team we showed a little bit of character."

Asked about the performance of the Bangladesh team, Smith said, "As a player you have to play with responsibility. Two of my young players -- De Villiers and JP Duminy -- who are under 24 batted with responsibility to earn the victory in the 2nd ODI. But, a number of Bangladesh players, who have experiences of playing more matches than these two, didn't bat with responsibility."

About crossing the 5000-run mark, the in-form captain said, "If you achieve 5000 runs in both forms of the game (ODI and test) you should feel proud. I'm very happy, I have been captaining the side for the last five years and it means a lot to me. Still there are many things left, which I want to achieve. "

The left-hand opening batsman told a questioner that if Bangladesh had put up 220-230, it would have been very difficult for them, especially in the afternoon. "All the credit goes to my bowlers and batsmen."

Man of the match Albie Morkel, who claimed 4 wickets for 29 runs to devastate the host innings today, said, "Obviously, I'm happy. I tried to bowl with a straighter line and put the batsmen under pressure."

Woods wins McCormack award

AFP, Florida

World No 1 Tiger Woods was named the winner of the Mark H. McCormack Award for a 10th straight year on Thursday.

The award is presented annually to the player who holds the world's top ranking for the greatest number of weeks in each calendar year.

Woods has won the award each year since its inception in 1998.

Woods held the top position on the official rankings for all of 2007, and ended the year with 134 consecutive weeks at number one.

Overall, Woods has held the number one ranking 486 weeks.

Dinajpur DSA drubs Dhaka DSA 5-0

UNB, Dhaka

Dinajpur DSA made a flying start in the final round of the JFA Cup Under-15 Football Championship beating Dhaka DSA by 5-0 goals at Rajshahi divisional Stadium Friday.

Sajib struck twice in the 48th and 71st minute, while Liton, Rafiqul and Jamil scored one goal each in the 10th, 62nd and 68th minute respectively for the winners.

In the day's other match, Bhola DSA edged past Kushtia DSA by a lone goal at the same venue.

It was the 1st win for Bhola DSA while Kushtia DSA suffered their 2nd defeat after losing 5-0 goal to Rajshahi in the opening match, both playing two matches.

Today's matches: Cox's Bazar DSA vs Narayanganj DSA (2:30 pm ; BKSP vs Moulvibazar DSA (4:00 pm) at the same venue.

No ranking distractions for holder Nadal at Indian Wells

AFP, California

Rafael Nadal has closed the gap on world number one Roger Federer but the Spaniard refuses to be distracted by thoughts of ranking points at this week's Pacific Life Open.

Nadal, who trails the dominant Swiss by just 350 points in the global pecking order, is fully focused on his title defence at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the opening Masters Series event of the season.

"It is closer in the rankings but not closer if you know exactly what I have to defend right now," the 21-year-old told reporters on Thursday.

"I have to defend my title here, so maybe this is not the moment for me to be world number one, that's for sure."

Federer, who has spent a record 215 consecutive weeks at the top of the men's rankings, has 6,330 points with Nadal in second spot on 5,980.

It is the closest margin since May 10, 2004 when Federer led American Andy Roddick, also by 350 points.

Left-hander Nadal is unable to overhaul the 26-year-old Swiss at Indian Wells but could do so at the Masters Series event in Miami, which starts on March 24.

UNBELIEVABLE SEASON

"Last year I played an unbelievable season and now I am closer to him," said the muscular Spaniard, who piled up six ATP titles in 2007, including a third successive French Open.

"But this is a new season and my goal is never watching the tournaments. I always think about how to play good and my goal is always the ranking.

"I know if I want to reach my goals I have to play very good in important tournaments. That's it."

Nadal, who beat Serb Novak Djokovic 6-2 7-5 in last year's final at Indian Wells, was in upbeat mood for his title defence despite losing to Roddick in the quarter-finals of last week's Dubai Championships.

"I played very good in the first set," he said, referring to his 7-6 6-2 defeat in Dubai. "Andy was playing very well and serving unbelievably.

"I had good chances in the first set-leading 3-0 in the tiebreak and getting three break points. But I had some mistakes with my second serve. This week, I will try to play like the first set against him in Dubai.

"If I play like that with a little more confidence, I can beat everybody."

Ireland cricket team arrives today

UNB, Dhaka

A 15-member Ireland cricket team arrives here today (Saturday) to play a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh.

During the weeklong visit, Ireland will play the 1st ODI match against Bangladesh on March 18, the 2nd on March 20 and the 3rd on March 22 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

Ireland defeated Bangladesh by 74 runs in the lone encounter in the ICC World Cup Super-eight in West Indies last year.

Ireland Squad: Trent Johnston (captain), William Porterfield (vice captain), Kyle McCallan, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Andre Botha,

Alex Cusack, Reinhardt Strydom, Thinus Fourie, Gary Kidd, Greg Thompson, Eoin Morgan, Paul Stirling, David Langford-Smith and Phil Eaglestone

England seize control of second test

Reuters, Wellington

England were in a strong position to level the test series against New Zealand after James Anderson took five wickets to help bowl the hosts out for 198 late on the second day of the second test on Friday.

England were four without loss at the close in their second innings, a lead of 148 with three days remaining, with Alastair Cook on two and captain Michael Vaughan yet to score after the openers saw out a tricky five-over spell before the close.

Ross Taylor top scored with 54 and Daniel Vettori contributed 50 not out in New Zealand's first innings, while Anderson finished with five for 73 and Paul Collingwood took career-best figures of 3-23.

New Zealand had bowled England out for 342 just before the lunch break with Tim Ambrose scoring his maiden test century.

New Zealand won the first match in the three-test series in Hamilton by 189 runs.