The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tigers eye series, Kiwis reversal

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Bubbling with newfound confidence after Thursday's inspiring seven-wicket win in the first match, Bangladesh are eyeing a back-to-back win against New Zealand on Saturday to wrap up the three one-day internationals series with a match to go.

The match starts at 9:00am at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium with state-run television BTV beaming the match live from the venue.

"We had been struggling for one and a half to two years for a good win and everyone is on a high now. We will try to win tomorrow to make sure the series is ours," said vice-captain Mashrafee Bin Mortaza after the training session on Friday.

"We hardly get this type of opportunity to win a series opener against a top team and we don't want to throw the chance of winning the series away as we have two matches in hand. I think all of us will play keeping this fact in mind," said a confident-sounding Mashrafee, who tore through the Black Caps batting order with four for 44.

The Tigers, however, were not being complacent after the win and were planning a different strategy for Saturday's game.

"What happened yesterday is behind us and we are going to face New Zealand in a new game and thinking different for the match. We have already discussed that aspect among ourselves," Mashrafee said.

The 25-year-old pacer played down the importance of toss and believed judicious batting, tight, probing bowling, and sharp fielding were needed if they were to win the game.

"It is more important to play better in all three departments together instead of worrying about whether we win the toss and choose to bat or bowl first. It won't do any good getting if we do better in only one or two departments," said the vice-captain.

Bangladesh have not won back-to-back matches against a top-ranked team and suffered humiliating defeats in the very next match, instead - a fact Mashrafee was quite aware of.

"We had actually been trying to win a good match and it came true. Now we are looking forward to keeping the performance up to the mark and show competitiveness even in a match we may go on to lose," said Mashrafee.

The pace speahead knows it very well that the opponents would come harder at them in the second match after losing the first.

"It is normal that they will try to come harder at us after going down in the first match, but we will try to do even better than we did yesterday (Thursday)."

The team management has kept opener Imrul Kayes and middle-order batsman Mehrab Hossain Jr out of the 14-member squad.

New Zealanders were busy analysing their performance and spent over an hour in the dressing room to rectify their mistakes by seeing the video footages, said the team's liaison official.

The Black Caps also examined the pitch for the second match.

"Just being smarter in the condition, bowling in better length and better line, adapting to the slow and sticky nature of the wicket and fielding better as well. So all three departments we looked at and I am sure tomorrow we will give a better performance," Jamie How told reporters when asked what they had discussed before starting the practice.

"We are obviously disappointed about our performance in the first game. We are determined to turn that round and we are looking forward to tomorrow and win the series," said Howe.

He added they had learnt a lot from their first game and would play a lot better on Saturday.

He, however, thought that Bangladesh deserved their victory as the New Zealanders got outsmarted, outfielded, outbowled and outbatted.

India start well after Hussey's stubborn century

AFP, Bangalore

India made a spirited reply to Australia's 430 in the first Test here on Friday, reaching 68 without loss in their first innings by the close of the second day's play.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir negotiated a tricky 18.1 overs before heavy rain brought an early end to the day's play that was marked by a solid century from the ever- reliable Michael Hussey.

The consistent left-hander shored up Australia's first innings with a gritty 146 before he was last man out soon after tea.

Sehwag began in his typical aggressive style, smashing seven boundaries against the four-man Australian pace attack on the way to 43 not out. His Delhi teammate Gambhir was unbeaten on 20.

India will resume on Saturday looking to build a sizeable total of their own on a wicket that is still batsman-friendly but could keep low later in the match.

Hussey, who averages an astonishing 70.60 in 26 matches after making his Test debut three years ago aged 30, has already scored nine hundreds and as many half-centuries in his remarkable career.

Entering the fray just before tea on the first day, Hussey batted for seven hours, hitting 15 boundaries and a six to frustrate India's hopes of terminating the innings early.

Hussey said the team's total had given the tourists a chance to put the Indians under pressure.

"I think it will definitely be harder to bat on as the Test match wears on," the 33-year-old said.

"It is already very dry and there are a lot of cracks in it.

One can never really feel 'in' on it.

"You feel there is just enough variable bounce there to keep all the bowlers interested, particularly our fast bowlers."

Indian left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, who bowled Hussey, finished with five for 91, while new-ball partner Ishant Sharma had figures of four for 77.

There was no joy, however, for the spinners. Indian captain Anil Kumble had unflattering figures of 0-129 from 43 overs while Harbhajan Singh went for 1-103 from 41.

Australia, who resumed on their overnight score of 254-4, lost all-rounder Shane Watson in the third over of the day, bowled off-stump by a sharp inswinger from Sharma.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin put on 91 for the sixth wicket with Hussey, contributing 33.

Sharma removed Haddin and debutant Cameron White in the space of three overs after lunch but Brett Lee (27) helped Hussey along by adding 59 for the eighth wicket.

Sharma had Haddin and White caught in the cover region off deliveries that came off the barren pitch slowly, an indication that batting may become difficult as the Test progresses.

Hussey, who was on 49 when Watson was out, took charge with three boundaries off Zaheer, two of them exquisite cover drives and the third a ferocious pull to square-leg.

Zaheer claimed the last three Australian wickets in the space of 14 runs after tea, shattering the stumps of Lee, Mitchell Johnson and finally Hussey.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting Thursday notched his 36th career Test century, just three behind record holder Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 39.

The visitors were helped along towards their big total by shabby Indian fielding, highlighted by retiring former captain Sourav Ganguly letting the ball pass through his legs at mid-off.

Ganguly, 36, said on Tuesday he will retire from international cricket after the four-Test series ends.

Hockey Federation calls open trial to form national team

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Hockey Federation has called a three-day open trial on October 16 to form the national team for the ensuing Jawaharlal Nehru Cup.

The Competition will begin from November 14 in India.

Interested players have been requested to report to coach Mahbub Harun on Oct 16 (Thursday) at 2:30 pm with their playing kits at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.

Meanwhile, the following national team players have also been asked to report to coach Mahbub Harun on Oct 18 at 2:30 pm with their playing gears at the Hockey Stadium.

The national players are Mahbub Ullah Chowdhury Shakil, Mehrab Hossain Kiron, Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Mohammad Isa Miah, Asaduzzaman Chandan, Moshiur Rahman Biplob, Ferdous Goldar, Mohammad Shahidullah Titu, Mohammad Musa Miah, Khandaker Hasan Ahmed, Sheikh Mohammad Nannu, Maksud Alam Habul, Russel Mahmud Jimmy, Zahidul Islam Rajon, Rimon Kumar Ghosh, Krishna Kumar, Zahid Bin Talib Shuvo, Tapash Barman and Mohammad Iqbal Nadir.

Preparations complete to host ODI, test matches at BSSRAS

UNB, Chittagong

CMP Commissioner Mohammad Moniruzzaman said Friday that all preparations are complete to host the ODI and test matches between Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSSRAS) here.

Addressing a press conference at the CMP conference room, Moniruzzaman, also the chairman of the organizing committee, informed that 900 security personnel including RAB and police would be deployed in and around the match venue to maintain law and order.

BCB coordinator Maj (retd) Imroze and media committee member cum Chittagong Press Club president Ali Abbas also spoke on the occasion.

The 3rd ODI of the BRAC Bank series will be held on Oct 14 at the BSSRAS, followed by the first test match Oct 17-21 at the same venue.

After playing the 2nd ODI at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday, both Bangladesh and visiting New Zealand teams will arrive in the port city on Oct 12. Both teams will stay at the city's Hotel Peninsula.

Blatter vote of confidence in South Africa 2010

AFP, Belgrade

FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday said he was confident that South Africa would be able to meet its commitments associated with staging the 2010 World Cup.

"Be confident in Africa and in Africans - I know they are capable of doing that which they are called to do," Blatter said on a visit to Belgrade.

4-day matches of NCL begins

UNB, Dhaka

The four-day matches of Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League began Friday at three separate venues across the country with the bowlers dominating the first day.

A the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna, Sylhet Division spinner Nabil Samad captured eight wickets for 61 runs in 21 overs forcing hosts Khulna Division to fold their first innings at 178 in 61.2 overs.

Opener Nazmus Sadat contributed 43 runs while Mostafizur made 45.

Apart from Nabil's eight wickets, Shuvashish Roy grabbed the other two wickets giving away 34 runs.

In reply, Sylhet Division also struggled in their 1st innings as they were 42/6 at stumps on day one. Raju and number three Mithun contributed 17 and 13 runs respectively, while Sharifullah and Golam Mowla Tushar were batting on 4 and 1 runs respectively.

Ziaur Rahman scalped three wickets for 9 runs while Robiul Islam, Dollar Mahmud and Aslam Khan took one wicket apiece.

Sent into bat first at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium (RDVS), Barisal Division made a steady start as they posted 186 for 7 in 90 overs in their first innings when play was called off for the first day.

Skipper Imran Ahmed remained not out with 53 off 238 balls that featured four fours while Sajedul Islam was the other not out batsman with 43.

Rajshahi Division pacer Alamgir Kabir was the pick of the bowlers claiming 6 wickets for 53 runs in 22 overs.

Meanwhile, the opening day's play between Dhaka Division and Chittagong Division at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) has been called off due to wet ground.

Earlier, in the morning, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Maj. Gen. Sina Ibn Jamali inaugurated the 10th version of the country's lone first class competition as chief guest at the NOS.

Chairman of Ispahani Group Ali Behrouz Ispahani and BCB Tournament Committee chairman Engr Ghulam Mohammed Alomgir were present.

Pullout of ailing Ancic sends Nishikori into semis

AFP, Stockholm

Japan's teenage tennis sensation Kei Nishikori dismissed his own illness worries to advance into the semi-finals of the Stockholm Open on Friday as ailing opponent Mario Ancic withdrew with fever from their quarter- final match.

Third seed Jarkko Nieminen continued his quest to try to go one better after losing two finals, with the Finn stamping his authority on Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-1, 6-4.

Nishikori said that he had considered retiring himself before the match after carrying a cold, sore throat and knee pain all week.

"But I didn't, I just wanted to play the match," he said.

"I'm sick too. But I'm in the semi- finals, that's big."

Ancic, who missed six months of play in 2007 with a serious case of glandular fever and was out for much the summer with a relapse, was unable to take to the court.

The second-seeded Croatian was struck down by fever and bronchitis to hand the 18- year- old Nishikori a first semi-final since Delray Beach in Florida last February.

Nishikori, ranked 77th is fast-tracking up the ATP rankings and is carrying the hopes of his country as the first serious contender from his nation since Top 50 Shuzo Matsuoka a decade and a half ago.

Nishikori, who has lived for the past four years at the Nick Bollettieri academy in Florida, won his first career title in Delray as he beat number 12 James Blake in the final.

He will await an opponent as he continues his successful Stockholm debut from Swedish fourth seed Robin Soderling and German number five Rainer Schuettler.

Top seed David Nalbandian was aiming to polish his indoor game in preparation for the Davis Cup final under a roof next month against Spain in Cordoba, his hometown.

Nieminen, losing Stockholm finalist in 2001 and 2006, broke Hernandez five times in just under 90 minutes on his way to victory.

The 27-year-old playing the event at the Kungligahallne for the ninth straight time, improved to 14-8 at what he considers his "home" event.

He currently stands 33rd, down from a career-best ranking of 13th in summer, 2006.

Arambagh KS draws with Brothers Union

UNB, Dhaka

Arambagh KS played to a 2-2 goal draw against Brothers Union Club in one of the matches of the Citycell 2nd B League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here Friday.

Lutfar Rahman scored the first goal for Arambagh KS in the 36th minute (1-0) while Imdadul Haque doubled the margin in the 45th minute (2-0).

After the breather, Brothers Union skipper Amit Khan Shuvro pulled one back in the 75th minute (2-1) while Abdullah Parvez restored parity for the 'all orange' Gopibagh outfit in the 91st minute (2-2).

In the day's other match at the Chittagong MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong Abahani held Sheikh Russell KC to a goal-less draw.

Burley job safe, says Scottish Association

AFP, Glasgow

George Burley's job as Scotland coach is safe, Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Gordon Smith insisted Friday ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Norway.

Scotland started off their campaign with a loss in Macedonia before winning in Iceland and Burley himself said Thursday that Norway was a must-win affair if his men are to have real hope of qualifying from Group Nine.

For Smith, "anything less than a win against Norway and our chances of qualification are doubtful."

But Smith also insisted that "it would be wrong to judge George on the strength of one match at the weekend. His position as national team manager is not under any threat at all."

However, he conceded that with Holland set to provide tough opposition in the Scots' next match early next year "a win on Saturday is crucial under those circumstances."

Enke out for three months with broken hand

AFP, Berlin

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke will be out for three months after having surgery for a broken hand on Friday and will miss the World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales.

The 31-year-old, who succeeded Jens Lehmann as die Mannschaft's goalkeeper after Euro 2008, broke the scaphoid bone in his left hand in training on Wednesday afternoon and had surgery to insert a screw on Friday.

The Hanover shot-stopper will miss Saturday's Group Four game in Dortmund against Russia as well as the match with Wales in Borussia Moenchegladbach next Wednesday.

It means either Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese or Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler will make their debut on Saturday.

Enke will be replaced in the Hanover team by former Germany Under-21 goalkeeper Florian Fromlowitz.

Klitschko weighs in three kgs less than Peter

AFP, Berlin

Vitali Klitschko, who will step into the ring on Saturday after nearly four years absence, weighed in three kilograms less than WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter on Friday.

The 37-year-old former champion from the Ukraine - dubbed "Dr Iron Fist" by virtue of his doctorate in sport science - weighed in here at 112 kgs, while Peter from Nigeria tipped the scales at 115kgs.

Peter, dubbed the "Nigerian Nightmare" with a record of 30 wins, 1 defeat and 23 knockouts, will be defending the title he won against Russia's Oleg Maskaev on March 8 and starts as favourite.