The New Nation - Internet Edition

National Women Cricket team leaves for Sri Lanka today

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Women Cricket team leaves for Sri Lanka today to take part in the Women's Asia Cup Cricket 2008 scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka from May 2 to May 11.

A total of four teams will participate in the cricket competition for women. They are: Hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

The cricket meet will be held on double league basis. Top two teams will get the tickets to the final.

Bangladesh will face India in their opening match on May 2.

Bangladesh will meet Pakistan on May 3.

Bangladesh will play against Sri Lanka on May 5.

Bangladesh will take on India on May 6.

Bangladesh will face Pakistan on May 8.

Bangladesh will meet Sri Lanka on May 9.

The final is scheduled to be held on May 11.

The players of Bangladesh National Women team are: Salma Khatun (Captain), Shathira Jakir (Vice-Captain), Shuktara, Ayesha Akhter, Irin Sultana, Chammely Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Panna Ghosh, Shamima Akhter, Jahanara Alam, Lity Rani Bishwash, Tithi Rani Sarker, Papiya Haque and Mina Khatun.

The officials are: Quamar Afroze Ahmed (Manager), Md Zafrul Ehsan (Coach), Parvin Nasima Nahar (Assistant Coach), Dr Shahnaz Begum Putul (Physiotherapist).

Orient CA beat Pragati Sangha by 15 runs; Ashish claim 5 wickets

UNB, Dhaka

A five-wicket haul by Ashish guided Orient Cricket Academy to a 15-run victory over Pragati Seba Sangha in a match of the Metropolis 3rd Division Cricket League at the Uttara Friends Club Ground (UFG) on Friday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Orient CA posted a moderate 198 for all in 49.1 overs with Babul contributing 52 runs and Tareq making 41.

Sirajul and Shamim grabbed two wickets each for 31 and 32 runs respectively.

In reply, Pragati SS were restricted at 183 for 9 in the allocated 50 overs. Rushdi top scored 54 runs and Iqbal not out 17.

Ashish claimed five wickets for 31 runs in 10 overs while Sharif took two for 29. In the day's other matches, Young Pegasus A (219/7) beat Sheikh Russell KC (218/10) by three wickets at the Dhanmondi Club Ground and Kamrangirchar SC (155/10) defeated Uttara Friends Club (132/10) by 23 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

Narail crush Gopalganj by 36-1 goals

UNB, Dhaka

Narail DSA crushed Gopalganj DSA by 36-1 goals in one of the opening day's matches of the EXIM Bank 19th National Women's Handball Competition (Kha zone) at the Bagerhat Stadium on Friday.

Narail DSA led the first half 16-1. In the day's other matches, Jessore DSA outclassed Jhenidah DSA by 31-2 goals, hosts Bagerhat DSA blanked Jhenidah DSA by 21-0 goals and Faridpur DSA thrashed Jhalkathi DSA by 18-2 goals.

Earlier, Bagerhat Women's Sports Association president Farzana Ahmed inaugurated the competition as chief guest. Bangladesh Handball Federation assistant general secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam were present.

Water Development Board beat Wari Club 3-0

UNB, Dhaka

Water Development Board beat Wari Club by 3-0 sets in a match of the Premier Division Volleyball League at the Dhaka Volleyball Stadium on Friday.

In the day's other matches, Bangladesh Rifles beat Titas Club also by 3-0 sets at the same venue.

Today's match: Power Development Board vs East End Club at 6:30pm.

Farashganj earn 5-wicket win over Kalindi

UNB, Dhaka

Farashganj SC earned a five-wicket win over Kalindi KC in a match of the Metropolis Second Division Cricket League at Narayanganj Osmani (Fatullah) Stadium on Friday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Kalindi KC scored 214 for all in 49 overs with Mahmudul scoring 41 runs and Anwar making 38.

Faisal and Imran claimed four wickets each for 23 and 43 runs respectively.

In reply, Farashganj SC reached their target scoring 215 in 48.2 overs for the loss of five wickets with Yasin contributing 86 runs while Shahidul 57.

Pintu bagged two wickets for 41 runs. In the day's two other matches, Prantik KC (200/7) beat Rayer Bazar AC (197/10) by three wickets at the Dhaka University ground while Kakrail Boys Club (129/10) defeated Green Leaf (110/) by 19 runs at the Jagannath University ground.

Abahani Ltd face Sonali Bank in Club Cup Hockey final today

UNB, Dhaka

Abahani Limited takes on Sonali Bank SRC in the title-deciding final of the BRAC Bank Club Cup Hockey tournament at the Moulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium here today (Saturday) at 4pm.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Youth and Sports Mahbub Jamil is expected to be present as chief guest in the final. Earlier on Thursday, Abahani booked a seat for the final, beating youthful players based holders Mohammedan SC by 5-4 goals in tiebreaker in the 1st semifinal while Sonali Bank made the final berth for the first time, upsetting two-times champions Usha KC by 2-1 goals in the second semifinal.

Federer, Nadal reach Monte Carlo quarters

AP, Monte Carlo

Roger Federer beat Gael Monfils of France 6-3, 6-4 Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion overcame an early break against Monfils and looked to have recovered a day after he had to come back from 5-1 down in the third set to beat 137th-ranked Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo.

"My forehand worked well today," Federer said. "And I was just happy, after yesterday, (to be) playing so well. Today was fine again. It's good I reacted so well after yesterday's The top-ranked Federer will play sixth-seeded David Nalbandian, who routed No. 12 Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-0. Federer set up match point with a perfectly weighted drop shot that Monfils didn't even chase, and won on his second match point with a service winner that curled away from the Frenchman.

Monfils threatened early on, breaking Federer in the third game. Federer broke straight back for 2-2 and took Monfils' serve again in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead after Monfils sent a big forehand wide.

"I started off well. I was aggressive," Monfils said. "And then, I don't know, I changed. I swas watching him playing instead of staying aggressive or very dynamic."

Federer won the opening set when Monfils hit a service return long.Federer broke his opponent in the third game of the second set and was leading 4-2 when Monfils saved three break points. Also Thursday, three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal beat Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-1; third-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia topped No. 14 Andy Murray 6-0, 6-4; No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia rallied to beat No. 16 Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 7-5, 6-2; and Sam Querrey of the United States upset No. 7 Richard Gasquet 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Querrey became the first American to beat a top 10 player on clay since Vince Spadea beat No. 5 Rainer Schuettler in the first round of the Rome Masters in May 2004. Gasquet was ranked No. 9.

"I think it was a good match," Nadal said. "It is never easy to play against Juan Carlos. He's a big player, especially here on clay. It is a very good start for me and that gives me confidence." Nadal will face David Ferrer of Spain, who beat Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-4, 6-0 to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year.

The fifth-seeded Ferrer has never advanced past the last eight at Monte Carlo. He lost to Roger Federer in the 2006 and 2007 quarterfinals, and to Guillermo Coria in 2005.

Davydenko next plays Igor Andreev of Russia, who needed seven match points to finally overcome Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Nadal broke Ferrero in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead, but Ferrero pinned Nadal on the baseline in the seventh game and broke back, then held for 4-4. Ferrero saved three set points in the 10th game-the first with a forehand winner and the next two when Nadal sent big forehands long going for baseline winners-but then conceded the opener after a thrilling rally.

Nadal dominated the second set more convincingly, opening up a 4-0 lead before Ferrero broke in the fifth game. Nadal broke straight back to lead 5-1 and clinched the match on serve with a crosscourt winner that bounced at Ferrero's feet.