The New Nation - Internet Edition

Biman beat City Club by 73 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Biman Bangladesh Airlines maintained their supremacy in the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League with a 73-run win over City Club in a Super League match at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) on Friday.

In the day's other two super league matches, title contender Mohammedan SC beat Surjotarun Club by two wickets at the BKSP-2, while Abahani Limited defeated BKSP by three wickets at the BKSP-1.

Sent into bat first at the SBNS, Bangladesh Biman scored a moderate 212 for all in 46.4 overs.

Opener Nasir Jamshed top scored 92 runs off 93 balls with nine fours and two sixes, and was later adjudged man of the match. Lipon Dey made 2nd highest 33.

Rashedul claimed three wickets for 24 runs, while Arafat Salahuddin and Shafaq Al Zabir took two wickets each.

In reply, City Club were dismissed for paltry 139 in 44.2 overs in the face of some hostile bowling. Number five Abul Bashar contributed innings highest 27 runs.

Pacer Mahbubul Alam Robin captured four wickets for 34 runs, while left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel grabbed three wickets for 12 runs.

Batting first in a curtailed over match at the BKSP-2, Surjotarun Club were all out for 180 in 41.4 overs with opener Shamsur Rahman scoring 64 runs off 67 balls that featured eight fours and two sixes.

Young pacer Dollar Mahmud scalped three wickets for 40 runs, while Junaed Imroze took two 21.

In reply, Mohammedan SC easily reached their target of 181 runs in 42.3 overs for the loss of eight wickets.

National skipper Mohammad Ashraful played a captain's knock of 70 runs off 85 balls with five fours and was later named player of the match.

Pacer Mohammad Sharif captured four wickets for 39 runs, while Delwar Hossain took two wickets for 40 runs.

At the NOS, BKSP batted first to score 174 for all in 44.1 overs with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim scoring team highest 64 runs off 80 balls that included three boundaries.

Rezaul Karim Razib claimed four wickets for 22 runs to be adjudged man of the match. Veteran spinner Mohammad Rafique also bowled well to take three wickets for 33 runs.

In reply, Abahani Limited scored the match winning 175 runs in 43 overs for the loss of seven wickets.

Opener Jahurul Islam contributed 34 runs off 38 balls with six fours, while Shahriar Nafees made 29 and Sahagir Hossain Pavel 26.

Nasir Hossain took two wickets for 31 runs.

Women's Asia Cup: Sri Lanka defeat Bangladesh

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Women Cricket team tasted a nine-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka National Women Cricket team in their last league match of the Women's Asia Cup at the Welagedara Stadium in Sri Lanka on Friday.

Sent in to bat first, Bangladesh scored 120 in 49.3 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka romped home and dry in just 25.5 overs making 123 for the loss of one wicket. L Silva of Sri Lanka hit an undefeated 66 using 82 deliveries. She sent the ball 12 times beyond the ropes. H Siriwardene remained undefeated with 23 off 34 balls.

Rumana Ahmed of Bangladesh took one wicket giving away 14 runs.

Earlier, Ayesha Akhter knocked a polished 30 off 75 balls amid five fours.

Besides, Chamely Khatun, Salma Khatun and Irin Sultana added 19, 19 and 18 runs to Bangladesh total.

A Janakanthymala and H Siriwardene scalped three each at the cost of 9 and 28 runs respectively.

Besides, S Alwin and P Kumarihami took one wicket each for 21 and 27 runs respectively.

BDR face Police in Premier Div Volleyball final today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Rifles face Bangladesh Police in the final of the Premier Division Volleyball League at the Volleyball Stadium today (Saturday) at 4:30 pm.

Bangladesh Rifles so far clinched all the titles (10 tiles) of the Premier Division League since its introduction in 1995-96.

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed will witness the final as chief guest and later distribute the prizes.

Meanwhile, in the day's 2nd Division League, Hazrat Ali Smriti Sangsad outclassed Nabajatak Majlish by straight 3-0 sets, while Nagar Samaj Kalyan beat Nabajagarani Sangha by 3-1 sets.

Frenchman Renard to coach Zambia

AFP, Lusaka

Frenchman Herve Renard will sign a two- year contract next week to coach Zambia, the national football association said Thursday.

He succeeds local Patrick Phiri, whose contract was not renewed a couple of months after Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) made a first round exit from the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana.

Former Cannes defender Renard assisted compatriot and Ghana coach Claude le Roy at the biennial African tournament and the 'Black Stars' finished third behind Egypt and Cameroon.

The 39-year-old Frenchman has coached clubs in his homeland, England and China and has a big fan in Football Association of Zambia president and 1988 African Footballer of the Year Kalusha Bwalya.

"Herve comes from a new generation of impressive European coaches and I am convinced he can satisfy the ambitions of Zambia," Bwalya told reporters in the Zambian capital.

Those ambitions will include being one of six African representatives at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Zambia are away to shock 2006 qualifiers Togo on May 31 in their opening group fixture.

Premier Hockey: Mohammedans draw with Sonali Bank

Sports Reporter

Mohammedan Sporting Club drew with Sonali Bank SRC 2-2 in their Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday.

The bankers led the first half 1-0.

John and Zahid of Mohammedans scored one goal each while Rimon and Iqbal of Sonali Bank netted one each.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club blanked Wari Club 4-0 after completing the first session 1-0.

Ranchan of Mariners scored two goals while Prashanta and Isa struck one time each on the board.

Safina sends Serena crashing out

BBC Online

Dinara Safina continued her magnificent form by ending Serena Williams' 17-match unbeaten run at the German Open.

The Russian, who beat world number one Justine Henin on Thursday, saw off Williams 2-6 6-1 7-6 (7-5) to secure a semi-final against Victoria Azarenka.

After dropping the first set, Safina dominated the second and edged the decider after letting a lead slip.

In Friday's other quarter-finals, Elena Dementieva plays Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic takes on Agnes Szavay.

Unseeded Belarussian teenager Azarenka of earlier upset 15th seed Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.

Asian body vows action on corruption and match-fixing

AFP, Kuala Lumpur

Corruption and match-fixing remain key areas of concern for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamad bin Hammam who Friday vowed to rid them from the game.

"Corruption and match-fixing in the Asian game remain prime concerns and AFC will do everything in its power to root out this scourge," he said on the governing body's 54th anniversary.

"The game's integrity is of utmost priority for AFC and we will prevail in this fight against corruption."

Corruption has long blighted football in Asia and reared its ugly head again last month in Malaysia, home of the AFC.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) detained seven players from the Sarawak state team and nine others from the Police Football Association over allegations of match-fixing.

The detentions were the latest blow to Malaysian football, which has never recovered from a 1994 investigation that saw 126 players picked up for questioning.

In that debacle, 21 players and coaches were sacked, while 58 players were suspended by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on corruption charges.

Vietnam and China are other prime countries to have been dogged by match-fixing allegations.

Bin Hammam added that he wanted to see the game completely depoliticised.

"Political and vested interests must be completely eliminated from the statutes of all AFC Member Associations," he said.

"All AFC Member Associations should adopt FIFA's Standard Statutes and put in place an independent, transparent and democratic system to introduce transparency."

He also called for all Asian footballing nations to embrace a more professional and commercial approach to help raise standards.

New Zealand coach Bracewell to leave next year

AFP, Wellington

New Zealand cricket coach John Bracewell will step down when his contract expires in April next year, New Zealand Cricket said Friday.

"John has informed me that he will not be looking to extend his contract for another term and will instead pursue other coaching opportunities in cricket," New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said.

Bracewell, a former off-spinner who took 102 wickets in 41 Tests for New Zealand, has previously said he is interested in returning to coaching English county cricket.

The 50-year-old, currently in England with the touring New Zealand team, coached Gloucestershire for five years before taking up the top New Zealand post in 2003.

Vaughan paid tribute to Bracewell, who has sometimes been a controversial figure for his aggressive style, saying he had produced some tremendous results, "most notably in the one-day game".

New Zealand Cricket would start looking internationally for a replacement.

"We currently have an extremely talented group of players with some really exciting individuals entering the international game," Vaughan said.

"I believe they have the makings of a very successful team, and the coach will be selected to realise this potential."

Although Vaughan did not refer to any candidates, former New Zealand captain and Indian coach John Wright is a strong contender. Wright is currently New Zealand's high performance coach.