The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sehwag hits historic triple ton

BBC Online

India's Virender Sehwag hit the fastest recorded triple-century in Test history on day three of the first Test against South Africa in Chennai.

Sehwag reached 100 before lunch and 200 after, before passing 300 from 278 balls in the evening session.

Matthew Hayden took 362 balls against Zimbabwe in 2003 and Walter Hammond an estimated 355 in New Zealand in 1933.

Sehwag, 29, was 309 not out as he and Rahul Dravid led India to 468-1 at stumps, replying to South Africa's 540.

Sehwag, who was dropped from the Test side for over a year from January 2007, becomes only the third batsman, alongside Sir Donald Bradman and Brian Lara, to pass 300 twice in Test cricket.

"It hurt when I was not in the team so I had to prove myself and I want to get back my seat so that's why I can concentrate and it's good for me and I think I'll continue in the next two Tests," he said.

Sehwag's effort puts the hosts in a strong position going into day four but, on a pitch conducive to high run-scoring and offering precious little to the bowlers, the most likely outcome remains a draw.

Yet even if India fail to force a result, the match will long be remembered for one of the finest innings seen in any form of cricket.

Coming a day after Hashim Amla crafted a stunning 159, Sehwag overshadowed the South African's feat by smashing the highest score by an Indian on home soil, exceeding VVS Laxman's 281 against Australia in Calcutta in 2001.

"You have to play your shots and maintain your run rate and I think we did a good job," he added.

"It was so good, such a true wicket and I just tried to play my shots because if I did that I knew that I could do it."

India resumed on 82-0 and Sehwag, 52 not out overnight, set the tone by swatting Makhaya Ntini for two boundaries off the day's opening over.

While less prolific, Wasim Jaffer's innings was proving equally important and he brought up his 10th Test 50, featuring five fours and one six, by pushing Paul Harris to mid-on.

And with South Africa's attack struggling to muster any hint of a breakthrough Sehwag notched his 100 by launching Kallis over mid-off five overs before lunch.

The pair passed India's previous highest opening stand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, beating Sunil Gavaskar's and Kris Srikkanth's 200 against Pakistan in 1987, in the 52nd over.

But in the 53rd Jaffer edged Harris to Jaques Kallis at first slip, falling for an impressive 73.

Sehwag was utterly unaffected by the loss of his partner and, typifying his innings, cut Steyn for a lovely four off the very next ball.

In the 68th over, he smashed Ntini for six over long-leg and then flicked him for three to reach his 200, slower only than Nathan Astle's 153-ball innings in Christchurch in 2002 and Sehwag's own 182-ball knock in Lahore in 2006.

Although Dravid's was finding it difficult to establish a rhythm, making just 10 off 56 balls by tea, Sehwag hit a staggering 106 off 67 balls in the middle session.

The right-hander kept India's superb run-rate high thereafter, surpassing the highest previous individual score at the ground, Gavaskar's 236 against West Indies in 1983-84.

Naturally, Sehwag tired somewhat the longer his innings went on but, more importantly, the South African bowlers were beginning toil in the evening humidity, allowing Dravid to take the ascendancy.

He began to play with great fluidity and marked his 51st Test 50 by paddle-sweeping Harris for four.

But the undoubted star of the show was Sehwag and he moved onto 297 by smashing Harris straight for six before flicking Ntini to deep backwards square leg for his 300.

A magnificent effort from a magnificent batsman, Sehwag will resume Saturday 91 runs short of the most runs ever scored by one batsman in an innings - Lara's 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004.

Final line up of Bata School Handball completed

UNB, Dhaka

Narinda Govt. High School and Ansar & VDP High School reached the boys' final of the 17th Bata School Handball Tournament winning their respective semis at the Outer Stadium handball ground on Friday.

In the first semifinal, Narinda Govt. High School outplayed Banani Bidyaniketon by 20-12 goals after leading the first half 9-6.

In the 2nd semis, Ansar & VDP High School edged past BIS 13-11 after a 5-4 first half lead.

In the girls' section, Viqarrunnisa Noon School & College and Sunny Dale School made their final berth after eliminating their respective opponents in the semis.

Viqarrunnisa Noon School & College thrashed Maple Leaf International School by 15-4 goals after dominating the first half 12-1 in the first semifinal while Sunny Dale crushed Scholastica by 11-1 goals in the 2nd semis.

The finals and also the 3rd place deciders in both the boys' and girls' sections will be held today (Saturday).

Bangladesh Handball Federation president and Industries secretary Mohammad Nurul Amin will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony and distribute the prizes.

9th AGM of BSJA held

UNB, Dhaka

The 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Bangladesh Sports Journalist Association (BSJA) was held on Friday at the BSJA office.

BSJA general secretary Syed Mohammad Mamun and treasurer Saidur Rahman Shamim presented their reports at the AGM held with BSJA president M Manjarul Haq in the chair.

Biman on top of point table in Premier Div Cricket

UNB, Dhaka

Biman Bangladesh Airlines for the first time has been on top of the point table (solo lead) in the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League with a 70-run win over Abahani Limited in a 9th round match at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Friday.

The day was not good for title contender Mohammedan SC as it was forced to concede a four-wicket defeat to Old DOHS, their first loss in the ongoing league.

In the day's other matches, BKSP beat City Club five wickets at Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS) while Victoria SC defeated Sonargaon Cricketers and Sutjotarun Club beat Partex SC, also by the same margin.

After the day's results, Bangladesh Biman secured 17 points from eight matches, leaving behind Mohammedan SC in the 2nd place with 16 points from 8 matches. Abahani Limited is in the 3rd position with 13 points, also playing the same number of matches.

Chose to bat first at the SBNS, Bangladesh Biman piled up a fighting 255 for 8 in 50 overs with three useful fifties from National coloured Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Alok Kapali.

Mashrafe hammered 76 off 56 balls that featured fours and three sixes while Kapali made 68 off 70 balls, including three fours and a six. Tamim also contributed 59.

Arafat Sunny and Ziaur Rahman bagged two wickets each for 34 and 49 runs respectively.

In reply, Abahani Limited were forced to fold their innings at 185 in 49.2 overs with number four Shahriar Nafees making team highest 60 off 115 balls with two fours and a six.

Openers -- Jahurul Islam 30 and Mahbubul Karim 23 -- were the other notable scorers for the popular Dhanmondi outfit.

Right-arm leg spinner Kapali claimed three wickets for 30 while Mosharraf Hossain Rubel and Niaz Morshed bagged two wickets each. Mashrafe also took one wicket to be adjudged man of the match.

Sent in to bat first at the NOS, Mohammedan SC were restricted at 214 for 9 in 50 overs with middle order Nadimuddin contributing team highest 41 off 68 balls colouring two fours. Aqeel Arshad 37, Abdur Razzak 31 and Suhrawardy Shuvo 27 helped their side score over 200.

Rashedur Rahman and MA Mustakim bagged two wickets each for 36 and 38 runs respectively.

In response, Old DOHS reached home scoring 216 for 6 in 48.2 overs with skipper Mehrab Hossain Jr. making not out 48 off 81 balls with one four and a six to be named man of the match. Wasiur Rahman was the other unbeaten batsman with 35 while Mustakim made 30.

Spinner Shuvo grabbed two wickets for 60 while Arshad, Tareq and Taposh took one wicket apiece.

In a curtailed 33-over per side match at the DCS, City Club managed 177 for 7 in 33 overs with opener Rasel Al Mamun contributing innings highest 48 off 57 balls featuring three fours and three sixes.

Raihan Anasi and Nasir Hossain claimed two wickets each giving away 26 and 34 runs respectively.

In reply, discarded national wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 81 off 87 balls that included six fours and a six as BKSP reached the target scoring 180 in 32.3 overs losing five wickets.

Opener Ashraful Aziz also came up with a handy 56 off 64 balls decorated with four fours and two sixes. Mushfiqur was later adjudged man of the match.

Pakistani recruit Zahoor Elahi claimed three wickets for 28 runs.

Asked to bat first at the BKSP ground-2, Sonargaon Cricketers managed 183 for 9 in 37 overs (curtailed match) with some mediocre scores from Arman Hossain 32, Sharifullah 30 and Arafat Chowdhury 29.

Pacer Mohammad Shahjada clubbed three wickets for 29 while Kaisar Iqbal took two for 34.

Chasing the target, skipper Ehsanul Haque Shezan hammered 55 off 45 balls hitting four fours and two sixes as Victoria SC scored the required 184 for 5 in 37 overs. He was later adjudged man of the match award.

In the day's another match at the BKSP ground-1, coin-favoured Partex SC batted first to be all out for 153 in 38.1 overs with middle order Rashed Hanif making 47.

Monwar Hossain and Faisal Hossain snatched three wickets each.

In reply, Surjotarun Club reached home scoring 155 for 5 in 43.4 overs with former national skipper Habibul Bashar contributing innings highest 37 followed by Nayeem Islam not out 32, Shakil Haider 30.

Tariqul Islam bagged three wickets for 20 runs.

Bangladesh U-15 outplay CAB U-15 by 5 wickets

UNB, Dhaka

An all round performance by skipper Iftedar Nazeef Ahmed guided visiting Bangladesh Under-15 team to a 5-wicket win over Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) team on the 2nd day of the first two-day match at Coochbehar Friday.

Replying to a moderate target of 235 runs set by the hosts, Bangladesh U-15 team reached home in 88.3 overs for the loss of five wickets with Rakin contributing unbeaten 88 while Nazeef made 79.

Earlier, coin-favoured CAB U-15 team batted first to score 234 for all in 71.3 overs with Bijoy making team highest 63. Koushika's 54 and Mithilesh's 32 helped their side near the 250-mark.

Mohammad Asif Hossain claimed four wickets for 15 runs while skipper Nazeef took three for 47 runs.

Bangladesh U-15 team will play the 1st one-day match on March 30 at Balurghat, the 2nd one-dayer on April 1 at Malda and the 3rd one-day match on Apr 3 at Burdwan.

The visitors will end their tour with the 2nd and last two-day match April 5-6.

Bangladesh Army blank Sipahipara SC

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Army blanked Sipahipara SC by 2-0 goals in a match of the Dhaka Bank Independence Day Hockey Tournament at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday.

Didar Hossain and Abu Syed scored one goal each for te Army who trailed 1-0 in the first half.

In the day's other match, Police SC earned a 2-1-goal win over Mirpur Academy. The match was locked 1-1 during the first half.

Nannu struck twice for the winners while Rajib one for the losers.