The New Nation - Internet Edition

Emphatic win for National Women team

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Women Cricket team registered an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Hong Kong National Women Cricket team in their first one-dayer at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong on Sunday.

Chasing Hong-Kong's paltry total of 38 off 22.2 overs, Bangladesh romped home and dry in just 13.2 overs making 39 for the loss of two wickets.

Salma Khatun played the key role in demolishing Hong Kong innings capturing four wickets for two runs with a good support of Tithi Rani Sarker and Shamima who chipped in with two wickets each giving away nine and eleven runs respectively.

Sathira of Bangladesh top-scored with 22 runs while Ayesha hit eight.

Tomorrow Bangladesh National Women team will take on Hong Kong National Women team in the second one-dayer.

Shakib moves up to 49th slot in ICC bowling ranking

UNB, Dhaka

Promising Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan moved into the top 50 of the LG ICC ODI bowling ranking for the first time in his career with a solid performance against Ireland.

In the recently concluded three-match ODI series, Shakib took five wickets with an average of 20 and an economy rate of 3.70 to move up 11 to be placed at the 49th position in the rankings.

The left-arm spinner, who celebrates his 21st birthday tomorrow (Monday), also gained fourth place in LG ICC ODI rankings for all-rounders.

He now sits in 11th place, just behind New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

Another left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has been dropped one place to the 17th in bowlers' log.

In the rankings for ODI batsmen, opener Shahriar Nafees gained two places to placed at the 35th position, moving past Runako Morton of the West Indies and New Zealand's Ross Taylor. Nafees averaged 102.00 in the three-match series, having hit 204 runs, including a top score of 90 not out.

Another opener Tamim Iqbal, whose maiden century in the third ODI enabled his side's 3-0 series win, gained 15 places and currently stands in 67th position on the batting ladder while Mohammad Ashraful went up six places to the 52nd spot, equaling with Pakistan 's Salman Butt.

7th round matches of premier cricket league begin today

UNB, Dhaka

The 7th round matches of the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League begin today (Monday) with five matches billed for the day.

Holders Abahani Limited will play Old DOHS SC at BKSP ground 2, league leader Mohammedan meet City Club at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur while Bangladesh Biman face Kalabagan KC at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium on Monday.

In the day's other two matches, Victoria SC will encounter Young Pegasus Club at Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium while Sonargaon Cricketers meet Partex SC at the BKSP ground-1.

After the sixth round matches, Dhaka Mohammedan SC dominated the list securing full 12 points from six matches.

Holders Abahani Limited and Bangladesh Biman followed the leader neck and neck with 11 points from 12 outings while Sonargaon cricketers yet to earn any point despite playing six matches.

Navy, BDR move to semifinal of Independence Day Volleyball

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Rifles teams moved into the semifinal of the Independence Day Volleyball Tournament crushing their respective opponents at the Volleyball Stadium here Sunday.

In the day's first match, Bangladesh Navy team outclassed Water Development Board by 25/16, 25/10, 25/20 points while Bangladesh Rifles drubbed Bangladesh Air Force team by 25/23, 25/20, 25/23 points.

Today's semifinals: Navy vs Air Force (4:00 pm)

BDR vs Water Development Board (5:30 pm)

Sidebottom rout destroys New Zealand

AFP, New Zealand

Ryan Sidebottom bowled England back in charge of the third cricket Test here Sunday as New Zealand squandered a powerful position losing seven wickets for 52 runs on the second day.

Bowling unchanged between lunch and tea, Sidebottom took five wickets as New Zealand's first innings crumbled from 93 for one to 155 for eight in the session.

With only two wickets remaining New Zealand were 98 runs in arrears of England's first innings 253.

It was a lone-stand by the left-arm quick Sidebottom who held the England attack together just as Kevin Pietersen did with his 129 when England batted.

At tea Sidebottom had the remarkable figures of six for 43 off 20 overs, while at the other end Stuart Broad had two 47 off 15 and James Anderson none for 54 off seven.

It was Stephen Fleming and Jamie who belted Anderson out of the attack before lunch and the rot set in soon after the break when Fleming again failed to convert a half century into a 100.

His dismissal for 59 -- caught at second slip by Paul Collingwood off Sidebottom-means he needs a further 54 runs in the second innings to meet his goal of ending an 111-Test career with an average of 40.

Sidebottom, who dismissed Matthew Bell early in the day with the third ball of the New Zealand innings, then removed the second danger batsman when he had How caught by Strauss at first slip for 44.

Although it is a placid wicket, no other New Zealand batsman has looked comfortable.

Broad had Taylor caught behind by Ambrose for two, and Tim Southee caught by Pietersen for five, while Sidebottom continued his rampage with the wickets of Mathew Sinclair (7), Grant Elliott (6) and Brendon McCullum (9).

At tea, Daniel Vettori was not out with New Zealand's third highest score of 10 while Jeetan Patel was on one.

Earlier teenager Southee announced his arrival on the international scene with a five-wicket haul on debut as England's first innings folded quickly on the second morning to be all out for 253.

The 19-year-old Southee started the day with a wicket off the first ball when Stuart Broad sent an edge to Brendon McCullum to be out for a Test-best 42.

He then finished the innings with Ryan Sidebottom caught by Mattew Bell at mid-off for 14, while in between the two Southee dismissals Chris Martin bowled Monty Panesar for one.

Southee returned an impressive five for 55 off 23.1 overs, the third best debut figures for a New Zealand bowler.

His victims included Pietersen who contributed more than half the England total with his 129 on the first day while fast bowler Broad was their second top scorer.

Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan hits IPL roadblock

AFP, Colombo

Sri Lanka's proposed series of one-day internationals against Pakistan next month is in jeopardy due to a clash of dates with the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

Sri Lanka had offered to play in the short series following a pull-out by Australia from a full tour of Pakistan in March-April due to security concerns.

But the dates of the series-from April 23 to May 5 -- are in direct clash with the inaugural Twenty20 league, to be played over 44 days at various venues in India from April 18 to June 1.

The lure of playing in the cash-rich IPL ahead of the Pakistan series could prompt top Sri Lankan players to shun their national colours, media reports said Sunday.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene, key batsman Kumar Sangakkara and spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan are among a host of Sri Lankan players contracted to play in the IPL.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the governing body for the sport here, would be helpless to prevent the players from playing in the league as they are currently bound only by the West Indies tour contract, The Nation reported.

It said the players, currently in the West Indies to play two Tests and three one-day internationals, had deliberated at length over the clash.

"It is reliably learnt that there was a meeting amongst the Lankan cricketers on Friday at Guyana on the next course of action they were to take if they don't get the required permission to play in the IPL," the daily said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has said that it was willing to offer SLC 800,000 dollars for the series of five one-day internationals, slated to be held from April 23 to May 5, but only if they send their full team.

The clash of dates has apparently also upset the Indian Cricket Board with a top official reported to have expressed his displeasure over the Pakistan tour to his counterpart in Sri Lanka over telephone.

SLC chief Arjuna Ranatunga is banking on the Indian tour in July-August to pull the board out of financial difficulties. A possible Indian decision to cancel the tour would cost Sri Lanka more than a million dollars.

Bata School Handball Tournament begins today

UNB, Dhaka

The 17th Bata School Handball Tournament (Under-17 boys & girls), organised by Bangladesh Handball Federation, begins today (Monday) at Dhanmondi Women Sports Complex.

ZD Hunts, managing director of Bata, will formally inaugurate the five-day meet, sponsored by Bata, at 3pm.

Ten matches of girls and five of boys are billed for the opening day.

A total of 32 metropolis schools, 17 from boys and 15 from girls, split into four groups, will participate in the tournament.

Later, the top team from each group will participate in the cross-semifinals on March 28. The final match of the tournament will be held on March 29.

Of the total budget of Tk 3.30 lakh, Bata will provide Tk 2.52 lakh for holding the tournament.

Tournament committee secretary Khalekuzzaman Swapan disclosed the details of the tournament at a press conference at the National Sports Council (NSC) conference room Sunday.

MA Kader, marketing manager of Bata, Nurul Islam, deputy general secretary of Handball Federation, and Hamida Begum, tournament committee chairman, were, among others, present on the occasion.

Old Dhaka crush Bangladesh Navy by 7-0 goals

UNB, Dhaka

Old Dhaka Hockey Association earned a comfortable 7-0 victory over Bangladesh Navy in the Dhaka Bank Independence Day Hockey Tournament played at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium here Sunday.

National player Maksud Alam Habul struck three, another national forward Rasel Mahmud Jimmy netted two while Rashed Hasan Ronny and Mahbubul Ehsan Rana scored one each for the winners, which dominated the first half by 3-0 goals

In the day's other match, Sepahi Para SC outplayed Police AC by 7-1 goals at the same venue in the afternoon.

They dominated the first half by 2-0 goals.

Bangladesh Army will play Bangladesh Air Force in Monday's lone match at 3:pm at the same venue.

Entry date for National Cricket Championship extended

UNB, Dhaka

The date for entry to participate in the National Inter-district

Cricket Championship has been extended up to March 25.

Interested district sports association teams have been asked to send their entries within the stipulated time to Hafizur Rahman Joarder, member secretary of the tournament committee at the BCB management office, Navana Tower (5th Floor), 45, Gulshan Avenue, or to the BCB office at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

Badda Jagarani earns 1-0 victory over Jatrabari KC

UNB, Dhaka

Badda Jagarani Sangsad managed a 1-0 goal victory over Jatrabari KC in a super six match of the Metropolis Senior Division Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here Sunday.

Kamol scored the all-important goal for Badda JS in the 83rd minute.

In the day's relegation league match, Agrani Bank SC defeated Wari Club by 2-0 goals at Kamlapur Stadium.

Chamrin Rakhain scored for the bankers' team, one in each half.

After a recess Monday, Badda Jagarani Sangsad will play Sunrise SC in the super six match at 4:pm at the same stadium while Purbachal Parishad will play City Club in a relegation league match at 4:pm at BNS Tuesday.