The New Nation - Internet Edition

Farashganj SC moves into quarterfinal beating Dhaka Wanderers Club by 1-0

UNB, Dhaka

Farashganj Sporting Club moved into the quarterfinal of the Citycell Federation Cup Football Tournament from Group A beating Dhaka Wanderers Club by a solitary goal at the Gazipur Stadium on Wednesday.

Enamul scored the match-winning goal for the old Dhaka outfit Farashganj SC in the 67th minute.

With the day's feat, Farashganj SC not only reached the quarterfinal with one match to spare but also dominated the Group A with all-win record securing full six points from two matches.

Farashganj SC, which made a flying start outplaying Khulna Abahani KC by 3-0 goals in the first match, will play Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in the remaining group match on Saturday.

After the day's match, the quarterfinal berth of Dhaka Wanderers Club has become uncertain.

They will have to beat all-losers Khulna Abahani KC by big margin in the last group match on Saturday to qualify for the quarterfinal.

Moreover, they had to wait for a defeat of Muktijoddha Sangsad KC against Farashganj SC in the last group match on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Football Federation today (Wednesday) handed over cheques of Tk 3 lakh each to all the eleven participating B League teams as financial assistance.

"We are giving the partial amount of Tk 3 lakh each to all B League teams from our own fund as per pledged made by BFF President Kazi Salahuddin" BFF Senior Vice President Abdus Salam Morshedi said while addressing at a press conference at the BFF Bhaban Wednesday afternoon.

The remaining amount of donation will be given later, he added.

India level series with tense victory

AFP, Dambulla

Mahendra Singh Dhoni capped Zaheer Khan's devastating spell with a crucial 39 as India posted a tense three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international here on Wednesday.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer ran through the top order in his incisive opening spell to finish with 4-21 as India bundled Sri Lanka out for a meagre 142. He was brilliantly backed by paceman Praveen Kumar (3-34).

But India skipped a few heartbeats before achieving the modest target with more than 10 overs to spare to level the five-match series 1-1.

They were wobbling at 75-5 after seamers Thilan Thushara and Nuwan Kulasekara shared four wickets, but skipper Dhoni and debutant Subramaniam Badrinath (27 not out) held their nerve under pressure.

When Dhoni inside-edged paceman Dilhara Fernando's delivery on to his stumps, his team were just eight runs short of the win with four wickets in hand.

"Zaheer did the job for us as he bowled in right areas. Credit also goes to Badrinath as he had not played Sri Lankan spinners Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan before," said Dhoni.

"We needed this victory. There was pressure on us, especially after losing opener Gautam Gambhir (stiff neck) before the match. We would have liked to win comfortably, but in the end it is about winning."

Unorthodox Sri Lankan spinner Mendis yet again made the Indian batsmen struggle for runs with shrewd variations, getting the big wicket of Yuvraj Singh before finishing with 2-22 off 10 overs.

Yuvraj (20) tried to ease the pressure by smashing Thushara for three fours in two overs, but his flourish did not last long. He was trapped leg-before by Mendis to leave his team wobbling at 52-3.

India appeared to have squandered the advantage given by Zaheer when they lost makeshift opener Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina in Kulasekara's opening spell and then Virat Kohli (37) and Rohit Sharma in Thushara's one over.

Dhoni and Badrinath then applied themselves well to add 60 for the sixth wicket which proved vital in a low-scoring game.

"We knew we could win this match only by getting wickets. We tried hard, but Dhoni and Badrinath batted really well and their partnership took the game away from us," said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.

Sri Lanka were earlier in danger of falling to their lowest-ever total of 96 against India when they were reduced to 44-6, but Thushara (44) and Kulasekara (25) rallied their side with a defiant 74-run stand.

The Indian skipper's decision to put the hosts in to bat after winning the toss produced instant results as Zaheer bowled Kumar Sangakkara with his sixth delivery which moved in sharply to hit the off-stump.

Man-of-the-match Zaheer claimed two wickets in his third over, removing in-form Jayawardene and Chamara Kapugedera.

"The important thing was to be consistent and bowl in right areas," said Zaheer.

"As a spearhead of the attack, it was important for me to provide early breakthroughs. All the bowlers did well and kept pressure on their batsmen."

Kumar had Chamara Silva caught by Kohli at point to reduce the hosts to 11-4. He also ended Sri Lanka's fightback when he dismissed Thushara and Kulasekara in the same over.

Sri Lanka's aggressive opener Sanath Jayasuriya, watching the disaster unfold from one end, was not allowed to play strokes as he faced 37 balls for his 13 runs before being trapped leg-before by Zaheer.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (16), the last specialist batsman, was caught by a diving Badrinath at deep midwicket off a mistimed pull off seamer Irfan Pathan.

Sri Lanka named Fernando in their playing eleven in place of left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas, who missed the match due to a hamstring injury.

The third match will be played in Colombo on Sunday.

Maradona to be a grandfather

AFP, Beijing

Diego Maradona is about to become a grandfather, with Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero revealing the Argentine football legend's daughter Gianinna is expecting a baby.

Aguero, who scored two goals to help Argentina inflict a humiliating defeat on arch-rivals Brazil in the Olympic semi- finals on Tuesday, is the father.

The rumour mill has been working overtime in Argentina and Aguero demonstrated to the crowd that Gianinna was pregnant by sucking his thumb after netting his first goal.

"Yes, it was a dummy, you all saw it. It was for the baby that is coming," he said.

"I dedicated the goal to Gianinna and to all my family watching at home. I miss them a lot."

Aguero has been wearing a special pair of boots here inscribed with 'Giani' and 'Kun', the couple's nicknames.

Biplob Ram of Bangladesh reaches boys' singles quarterfinal

UNB, Dhaka

Biplob Ram of Bangladesh reached the boys singles quarterfinal of the Prime Bank ITF 14/U Asian Tennis Championship beating his Indian rival Deka Sidhant by 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on the second day of the six-day meet, on Wednesday at the Ramna National Tennis Complex.

Except Biplob Ram, all the Bangladeshi players made their early exist from the meet till last report received.

In the day's other boys' singles matches, Merzuki Mohd Assri (MAS) beat Raisul Islam (BAN) by 6-2, 6-1; Soon Hyun Hwang (KOR) beat Hasibul Haque (BAN) by 6-2, 6-2, Naruka Digvijay Singh (IND) beat Rustam Ali (BAN) by 6-2, 6-1, Gwung Eun Byun (KOR) beat Duzbionjit Singh (MAS) by 6-4, 7-5, Abdul Razak Ahmed Deeda (MAS) beat Sanjib Fernando (Ind) by 6-0, 6-2, Jordan Joshua (MAS) beat Bhuya Jamil (BAN) by 6-3, 6-2 while Hi Hoon Son (KOR) beat Vishal Passi (IND) 7-6 (2), 7-5 to qualify for the quarterfinals.

In the girls singles, Mukherjee Amrita (IND) beat Kim Jae Yeon (KOR) by 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; Jung so Hee (KOR) beat Sharmin Sarda Alam (BAN) by 6-0, 6-0; Choi Ji Hee (KOR) beat Kaur Bajaj Jasmine (IND) by 6-0, 6-1 while Num Yeon Jun (KOR) beat Kaur Delizavernne (MAS) by 6-0, 6-0.

The quarterfinal matches of boys' and girls singles will be held tomorrow (Thursday) morning while the doubles matches will be held in the afternoon.

Some 45 participants -- 32 boys and 13 girls--from six countries including India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and host Bangladesh are taking part in the four-event six-day meet.

Bangladesh beat Australian Institute

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team beat Australian Institute of Sports by three wickets in the second practice one-dayer at the Gardens Oval in Darwin of Australia on Wednesday.

Electing to field first, Bangladesh restricted Australian Institute of Sports to 284 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.

In reply, Bangladesh sailed home in 44.5 overs making 288 for the loss seven wickets.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza cracked a superb 56 (not out) off 44 balls amid six fours and a six.

Dhiman Ghosh, the wicketkeeper-batsman also shone with the willow. He remained un defeated with 56 facing 60 deliveries. He sent the ball four times through the ropes and one time over the fence.

Skipper Mohammad Ashraful struck a windy 41 off 27 balls including four fours and a six.

SP Smith of Australia got three wickets conceding 56 runs while JM Holland took two wickets for 51 runs.

Earlier, Shahadat Hossain harpooned three wickets giving away 64 runs.

Besides, Alok Kapali , Abdur Razzak, Dollar Mahmud and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took one wicket each for 23, 42, 45 and 43 runs respectively.

Bangladesh will take on the same opponent at the same venue on August 23.

Brett Lee to miss Bangladesh series

AP, Sydney

Fast bowler Brett Lee will miss Australia's three-match, limited overs cricket series against Bangladesh starting this month because of a "family issue,"

Cricket Australia said Wednesday.

Acting CA chief executive Michael Brown said Lee has been granted short-term leave, allowing him to miss the matches on Aug.30, Sept. 3 and Sept. 6 in the northern city of Darwin. His place in the Australian squad will be taken by uncapped Tasmanian Brett Geeves.

"The selectors are comfortable this move will maintain the competitive edge for the Australian side and provide a wonderful opportunity for Brett Geeves to join the Australian group for the first time," Brown said.

"We look forward to Brett Lee rejoining the group as soon as possible."