The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sri Lanka pin Cup final hopes on Mendis :Battle for title today

AFP, Karachi

Sri Lanka will look to their new spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis to defend their Asia Cup title against batting juggernauts India when the two teams meet in the final here today (Sunday).

The 23-year-old from Moratuwa has bowled impressively in a tournament dominated by batsmen, and after going wicketless in the first match took 5-22 against United Arab Emirates and 4-47 against Pakistan to lead his team into the final.

Sri Lanka rested him in the Super League match against India on Thursday after they had already qualified for the final.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene played down the hype around his unorthodox spinner, who has six different deliveries in his armoury.

"We are not going to put lot of pressure on the guy," said Jayawardene of Mendis, who has been in the limelight since making his debut against the West Indies earlier this year. "He (Mendis) has done what he is capable of doing, we are just going to give him the freedom to go out there and enjoy his first final playing for his country, that's how we are going to treat him," said Jayawardene.

Spinners Upul Chandana and Sanath Jayasuriya contributed to Sri Lanka's 25-run win over India in the 2004 Asia Cup final in Colombo.

Jayawradene said resting Mendis and spearhead Chaminda Vaas in Thursday's game against Pakistan was part of the plan.

"We rested them because we wanted to rest them. It's about executing your game plan," said Jayawardene, whose team are trying to overcome poor form since finishing runners-up to Australia in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Sri Lanka won only eight of their last 22 one-day internationals before this tournament.

"We set ourselves a goal to get into the finals, we now need to focus hard. After trying a few things, which we wanted to try (against India), we have an idea of exactly how we want to go about in the final," said Jayawardene.

The pitch at National Stadium will help his spinners, Mendis and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, he added.

"We now have played six-seven matches on the squares, which are bound to deteriorate, and the spinners are getting enough spin on the ball. We've been very successful batting first, putting runs on board and defending."

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted it would be a tough final.

"We are playing Sri Lanka, a very good team, so we expect it to be tough, but we are ready for all kinds of challenges in this final," said Dhoni, whose team lost to Pakistan in the final of the tri-series in Dhaka last month.

Dhoni hoped his openers would once again set the pace.

"Our openers have given us good starts and if they continue to do so it would keep pressure off the middle order and set the foundation," said Dhoni.

Australia take 4-0 lead with narrow victory

AFP, Basseterre

Shane Watson kept his nerve, and the seventh-wicket pair of Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy failed to carry West Indies over the threshold, as Australia completed a thrilling one-run victory in the fourth One- day International on Friday.

Australia had set West Indies 283 for victory from 50 overs, and successfully defended the target score, when Watson - with the home team needing eight runs from the last over - conceded six runs from the final six balls.

The victory handed Australia a 4-0 lead in the five-match series, after they won the opening match by 84 runs in St. Vincent, the rain-affected second ODI last Friday by 63 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, and the third ODI last Sunday by seven wickets.

It also set the Aussies up to make a swing at a rare ODI series sweep in the Caribbean. Only South Africa (5-0 in 2005) and Pakistan (3-0 in the same year) have achieved this in the Archipelago.

Australia looked set to suffer their first defeat in the series, as West Indies captain Chris Gayle marched to a run-a-ball 92, Ramnaresh Sarwan coasted to 63 from 79 balls, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul gathered 53 from 71 balls.

But Australia responded with a crucial wicket every time West Indies appeared to be getting into the swing of things.

Brett Lee was the most successful Australia bowler with three wickets for 64 runs from 10 overs.

After Lee had Xavier Marshall adjudged lbw for a two-ball duck with the third ball of the West Indies' innings, Gayle and Sarwan added 137 for the second.

Lee returned for a second spell and broke the stand, when he had Sarwan caught behind in the 24th over. Australia were again put on the back-foot, when Shivnarine Chanderpaul joined Gayle and they added 50 for the third wicket. But Shane Watson had the West Indies captain caught at extra cover in the 34th over.

The Aussies were put through the ringers again, when Dwayne Bravo joined Chanderpaul and added 59 for the fourth wicket before James Hopes bowled him for 31 in the 43rd over.

Australia then made two crucial strikes, when ODI newcomer Shawn Findlay was caught at mid-wicket for nine off Lee in the 48th over, and Nathan Bracken then bowled Chanderpaul in the penultimate over to leave West Indies 275 for six.

But Ramdin and Sammy failed to carry the home team to "the promised land" much to the consternation of near capacity, holiday crowd at Warner Park.

Earlier, Andrew Symonds hit the top score of 87 and David Hussey supported with 50, as Australia, sent in to bat, reached 282 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs on a hard, true pitch.

Dreadlocked Symonds and ODI newcomer Hussey put Australia back on a track, after the visitors wobbled to 129 for four in the 29th over.

When Symonds was caught at mid-off off Fidel Edwards in the 47th over, they had added 127 for the fifth wicket.

Australia lost Hopes caught at mid-wicket for a first-ball duck off Edwards' next ball, and as they chased quick runs late, Hussey was caught inside the deep mid-wicket boundary off Gayle in the 48th over before Luke Ronchi was caught inside the long-off boundary for 12 in the final over.

Australia had started steadily before Shane Watson was caught behind off Daren Powell for 20 in the eighth over, and Shaun Marsh was also caught behind off the same bowler for 16 to leave the visitors on 56 for two in the 12th over.

Michael Clarke, leading Australia for the first time in an ODI, joined Mike Hussey, David's elder brother, and they stabilised the innings with a stand of 60 for third wicket before they both fell within in the space of five overs.

Hussey was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary for 11 mistiming a pull at a short ball from Bravo in the 24th over, and Clarke was adjudged lbw for 36 to become left-arm spin bowler Nikita Miller's first wicket in ODIs.

West Indies made two changes to their line-up. They dropped Andre Fletcher and Sulieman Benn, and brought in Findlay and Miller for their ODI debuts.

Australia made just one change, bringing David Hussey in for his ODI debut for injured captain Ricky Ponting, whose stiff right wrist has precipitated his early departure from the Caribbean, so that Clarke led Australia to victory for the first time in an ODI.

National team returns home today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh cricket team returns home today after taking part in the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

The team that made a flying start to the tournament outplaying group opponent United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 96 runs had a sad end. They were outplayed by 10 wickets in the last super-four match against Pakistan on Friday.

The Bangladesh side was unable to put up a consistent performance throughout the meet as they surrounded meekly to other opponents like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India.

The team came under heavy criticism by cricket commentators for performance in the last match against the hosts where they can put up barely 115 for all, which is also the lowest total of the tournament that also participated by UAE and Hong Kong.

In such batting paradise like National Stadium in Karachi where scores 300 plus proved not a fighting total, Bangladeshi batsmen threw out their wickets in style even they were not able to play out the full 50 overs in last two encounters against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

There was nothing extra ordinary from the Bangladesh side except two centuries from skipper Mohammad Ashraful and all rounder Alok Kapali. Ashraful scored his ton against UAE while Kapali played his scintillating knock against India.

In batting, right-hand batsman Rokibul Hassan scored highest 195 runs in five matches with an average of 39 while Kapali notched 2nd highest 172 runs also in five matches with an average of 34.40.

In bowling, the strike bowlers were not up to the mark as left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak Raj appeared to be the highest wicket taker for Bangladesh claiming seven wickets from five matches with an average of 35.29. Kapali also did his best with his leg spin bagging 3nd highest five wickets in five matches having an average of 33. Pacer Shahadat Hossain Razib grabbed six wickets from five matches.

After making their super four berth winning the first match against UAE, Bangladesh suffered a 131-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the group stage.

Then in the super four, the Tigers were handed a seven-wicket defeat to India, a humiliating 158-run defeat to Sri Lanka and lastly 10-wicket defeat to the hosts, who were unlucky enough not to make the final berth.

India faces Sri Lanka in the final Sunday at the National Stadium in Karachi. The day/night match will commence from 4:00 pm BST.

First National Uko Shito-Ryo Karate : Techniqual Seminar held

Sports Reporter

The two-day long First National Uku Shito-Ryo Karate Techniqual Seminar and Upgrading Test concluded at the Gymnasium of National Sports Council on Saturday. Bangladesh Association of Shito-Ryo Karate-Do arranged the programmes.

A total of 230 Karateka from different districts of Shito-Ryo Karate organisations took part in the seminar.

Sihan Rafiqul Islam Newton trained Karatekas and tested the belts in the two-day long programmes.

Sensai Wahed Ali Sentoo, Sinthia Jaman, Saiful Islam, Mokhlesur Rahman Abu, Khukumoni and Mashiur Rahman assisted him to conduct the programmes smoothly.

Wahed Ali Sentoo achieved fourth dan, Anwar Hossain secured fourth dan, Ilias earned second dan, Jadu secured second dan, Akhter got second dan, Al Amin achieved second dan, Asir Ali obtained second dan, Ashraful achieved first dan, MA Gafur secured first dan, Nazmul Hossain achieved first dan and Rina got brown belt.

The Association awarded some legend marshals for their contribution in marshal arts.

ABZ Nayen got Posting Grand Master of the Year 2008 Award, General Secretary of Bangladesh Judo Federation Md Abdul Kader awarded National Achievement of the Year 2008 Award, Md Saiful Aziz got Blackbelt Third Dan Award, Md Mahbub Alam achieved Black Belt Third Dan Award, Md Hasanuzzaman Moni got Pioneer of Marshal Arts Award-2008 and Humayun Kabir got International Achievement Award-2008.

Chairman of the Motorolla Telecommunication Bangladesh Private Limited Sabbir Ahmed Khan was the chief guest of the prize-giving ceremony while General Secretary of Bangladesh Marshal Art Federation Hasanuzzaman Monir was the special guest.

President of the organisation Group Captain (Retd) MA Quddus, psc presided over the programme.

Results of Open Squash Tournament

Sports Reporter

Bhola Lal of Sonargaon Hotel, Ram Jagadish of Cadet College Club, Bishu Nath of Gulshan Club registered wins in their respective matches of the Premier Division of the Delta Life Open Squash Tournament at the Squash Court of Dhaka Club on Saturday.

In the day's A-Division matches, Omar of Gulshan Club, Santhosh Chowhan of Dhaka Club and Jagadish Chawhan got wins at the same venue.

In the quarter final matches of the C-Division, Talha of Dhaka Army Club, Sadaf of Gulshan Club and Dr Jabun Nasrin of Dhaka Club recorded wins in their respective matches at the same venue on the same day.

In the day's Under-18 Division matches, Habib of Dhaka Club, Imon of Gulshan Club and Amal of Dhaka Club won their respective matches at the same venue.

In the Above-50 Division match, Brigadier General Kamaluzzaman of Dhaka Army Club defeated Colonel Latif of Gulshan Club by 2-0 sets at the same venue on the same day.

Peirsol equals 200m backstroke world record

AFP, Nebraska

Aaron Peirsol seized a share of the men's 200m backstroke world record here Friday at the US Olympic swimming trials, touching in 1min 54.32sec.

Peirsol matched the record set by Ryan Lochte in winning the world title in Melbourne on March 30th of last year. Lochte was second in 1:54.34.

Peirsol had already set a world record in winning the 100m backstroke on Tuesday. His second victory gives him a chance to repeat his 2004 Athens backstroke double in Beijing.

BSWA holds rally

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Sports Writers Association (BSWA), affiliated with International Sports Press Association (AIPS), held a rally yesterday in observance of the World Sports Writers Day.

Bearing the theme "Tobacco-free sports arena" the rally started at 7am from the Public Library and terminated at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.

EXIM Bank director and Audit Committee chairman Nurul Fazal Bulbul inaugurated the rally as chief guest. BSWA president Sarwar Hossain and general secretary Rafiqul Islam were also present on the occasion.

Sports journalists, sports writers, press photographers, players, organizers and officials of the different sports Federations and Associations took part in the rally, which was sponsored by Pepsi.

BSJA to accord reception to Usha KC today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Sports Journalist Association (BSJA) will accord a reception to the Senior Division Hockey League champions Usha KC today (Sunday) at 3:00 pm at National Sports Council (NSC) conference room.

BSJA will also accord reception to the best player of the League Zahidul Islam Rajon (Usha KC), the highest scorer of the League Mamunur Rahman Chayan (Abahani Limited).

Meanwhile, Mehrab Hossain Kiron, Syed Al Masum (Mohammedan SC) and Krishna Kumar (Sonali Bank) will also be given reception as promising players.

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed will present on the occasion as chief guest.

Bangladesh A faces England Under-19 today in the 1st 3-day match

UNB, Dhaka

After a disappointing Ireland tour, visiting Bangladesh A team begins their England campaign Sunday with a three-day match against England Under-19 team at the Hazelgrave Ground, Loughborough.

The second string Bangladesh side will then play the 2d three-day match against Warwickshire on July 11-13, the 3rd three-day match against Leicestershire on July 16-18, the 4th three-day match against Derbyshire on July 21-23 and the 5th three-day match against a South African selection on July 25-27.

After the three-dayers, Bangladesh A will play three one-day matches against Lancashire on July 30, Marylebone Cricket Club on August 1 and Durham on August 3.

The Bangladesh A side is expected to return home on August 4.

Earlier, in the Ireland tour, Bangladesh A suffered a five-wicket defeat to hosts in the first one-day match at Bangor on June 29. Before that they drew the three-day match with their Irish counterpart, followed by an 82-run defeat in a 20/20 encounter.