The New Nation - Internet Edition

National Cricket League: Rajshahi declare 1st innings making 438 for nine

Sports Reporter

Rajshahi Division declared their first innings making 438 for rhe loss of nine wickets against Chittagong Division on the second day of the four-dayer match of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 10th National Cricket League at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium on Sunday.

In reply, Chittagong Division were at the stumps on 54 for the loss of three wickets.

Anisur Rahman (111) and skipper Khaled Mashud (3)of Rajshahi resumed the innings with the overnight score of 275 for the loss of four wickets.

Anisur Rahman notched up 142 before he was cleanly bowled by Yasin Arafat.

Khaled Mashud hit a captain's knock of 72 off 213 balls. He hit 10 boundaries in his 295-minute innings.

Mohammad Younus of Chittagong Division harpooned four wickets at the cost of 110 runs.

Later, Chittagong Division faced a debacle as they lost their early three wickets for 35 runs.

Sohrawardy Shuvo of Rajshahi Division bagged acouple of wickets giving away 17 runs while his teammate Farhad Hossain took one wicket for 20 runs.

At the Sylhet Divisional Stadium, hosts Sylhet Division piled up a massive 343 in the first innings against Dhaka Division on the same day.

In reply, Dhaka Division were struggling at 183 for the loss of five wickets.

Ezaz Ahmed of Sylhet Division knocked a sparkle 88 facing 143 deliveries. He cracked five sixers and eight fours.

Elias Sunny of Dhaka Division bowled a superb spell and finished as 28.4-6-79-7.

Later, Shamsur Rahman of Dhaka Division hit 78 off 96 balls. He sent the ball 12 times through the ropes.

Mahmudullah was the other notable scorer for Dhaka Division who made 44 off 96 balls.

Meanwhile, Barisal Division have a 78-run lead in the first innings as Barisal scored 288 and then they bowled out Khulna Division for 210 at the Fatullah Stadium on the same day.

Talha Jubaer of Barisal played the key role in demolishing Khulna innings grabbing four wickets in liew of 43 runs with a good support of Sajedul Islam, who claimed three wickets in the space of 51 runs.

Besides, Tariqul Islam bagged a pair of wickets instead of 59 runs while Arafat Salahuddin took one wicket for 20 runs.

Pallabi Imperial earns 9-wicket win over Jubo Kalyan

UNB, Dhaka

Pallabi Imperial registered an emphatic nine- wicket win over Jubo Kalyan Sangsad in a match of the 3rd Division Qualifying Cricket League at the Gulshan Youth Club ground on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Jubo Kalyan Sangsad were dismissed cheaply for 48 in 21.1 overs with Shaheen scoring 14 runs.

In reply, Pallabi Imperial reached the target scoring 54 runs in 13 overs for the loss of one wicket with Kamal contributing unbeaten 34.

Results of the day's other matches: Shaheed Faruque Taslim Academy Green (187/3) beat Dhupkhola Cricket Academy (181/9) by seven wickets at the Dhaka University ground, Altaf Cricket Foundation (Tigers) (240/8) defeated Dakkhin Khan Naba Udayan Sangha (166/10) by 74 runs at the City Club ground, and Winning Run (177/10) outplayed Udayan Cricket Academy Green (118/10) by 59 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh Kabaddi team makes good start beating South Korea 55-18 points

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Kabaddi team made a good start in the First Asian Beach Games outplaying South Korea by 55-18 points in the opening match in Indonesia's tourist town of Bali on Saturday.

During the first half, Bangladesh clearly dominated over the Koreans by 25-8 points.

Bangladesh are taking part in the Men's Kabaddi, and Men's and Women's Volleyball competition of the first ever Asian Beach Games that began in Bali Island on Saturday.

India vs Australia second Test scoreboard

AFP, Mohali

Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of the second Test between India and Australia at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium here on Sunday:

India 1st innings: 469 (S. Ganguly 102, M. Dhoni 92, S. Tendulkar 88; M. Johnson 3-85, P. Siddle 3-114)

Australia 1st innings (overnight 102-4):

M. Hayden b Zaheer 0

S. Katich b Mishra 33

R. Ponting lbw b Sharma 5

M. Hussey c Dhoni b Sharma 54

M. Clarke lbw b Mishra 23

S. Watson lbw b Mishra 78

B. Haddin b Harbhajan 9

C. White b Mishra 5

B. Lee c Dravid b Harbhajan 35

M. Johnson not out 9

P. Siddle st Dhoni b Mishra 0

Extras: (lb13, nb4) 17

Total (all out) 268

Bowling: Zaheer 25-7-56-1 (nb1), Sharma 21-4-68-2 (nb1), Harbhajan 29-9-60-2 (nb1), Mishra 26.4-8-71-5 (nb1).

Overs: 101.4

India 2nd innings:

G. Gambhir not out 46

V. Sehwag not out 53

Extras: (nb1) 1

Total (for no loss) 100

Bowling: Lee 6-0-22-0 (nb1), Siddle 8-1-30-0, Johnson 7-0-43-0, White 2-0-5-0.

Overs: 23

Swimming Competition of DRU held

Sports Reporter

Mir Mostafizur Rahman of the Independent secured first position in the Swimming Competition of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at the Swimming Pool adjacent to the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday. Shafiqul Islam Shamim of Bangladesh Television became second while Badrul Alam Khokon of the Daily Sangbadpatra finished third in the swimming meet arranged by DRU under auspices of the Blazer BD. Mir Mostafizur Rahman became first for the consecutive fourth times in the competition.

A total of 20 participants took part in the swimming meet.

Former General Secretary of Bangladesh Swimming Federation Shahab Uddin Ahmed formally opened the swimming competition. Sports Secretary of DRU AKM Kamruzzaman Hero, former sports secretaries Monwar Haque, Rafiqul Islam were present , among others.

Mishra raises India victory hopes

BBC Online

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra took 5-71 on his Test debut as India moved into a match-winning position on day three of the second Test against Australia.

Shane Watson (78) battled hard but Mishra's spin helped bowl Australia out for 268 after they resumed on 102-4.

India could have enforced the follow-on but opted to stretch their lead of 201, with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir launching an assault late in Mohali.

India closed on 100-0, a lead of 301, with Australia firmly on the back foot.

The Aussies, frustrated in the drawn first Test, will need to take wickets early on day four and then produce a famous rearguard effort in their final innings to hold out for a draw.

And although the ease with which Sehwag (53) and Gambir (46) batted in the final session suggested such a task may not be beyond them, the threat of Mishra and fellow spinner Harbhajan Singh looms large over the final two days.

Mishra, playing instead of the injured regular captain Anil Kumble, outbowled the experienced off-spinner Harbhajan on Sunday.

The 25-year-old had excellent control of his googlies, top-spinners and leg-breaks and often had the Aussies groping uncertainly.

As had been the case on days one and two, India dominated in the morning session.

Michael Hussey, who resumed on 37 in a total of 102-4, was their number one target. And he was able to add just 17 further runs before falling to Ishant Sharma.

The right-arm seamer, finding an impeccable line on and just outside Hussey's off-stump, enticed a thin edge and Mahendra Dhoni did the rest.

Brad Haddin was almost bowled off his inside edge before he had scored. And he made just nine before attempting to drive Harbhajan through the covers and being bowled through the gate.

That left the score 146-6, and at lunch it was 174-7 after a similarly brief appearance at the crease from Cameron White. The big Victorian misread the flight of a quicker googly from Mishra and also had his stumps disturbed.

After such a perfect morning, it was a disappointment and a temporary setback for India when they managed to take just one Australian wicket in the afternoon session.

Luck went against them when umpire Rudi Koertzen - not for the first time in the match - made a prominent error. The stern-faced South African declined Ishant Sharma's appeal for lbw against Watson to a ball that struck the batsman inside off-stump and would have taken out middle.

The Queenslander had 39 runs to his name at that point, a collection made up mainly from deflections down to an unguarded third man.

But now he felt confident enough to hit Mishra for six, even though the bulk of the boundary hitting was coming from Brett Lee's drives off both seamers and spinners.

Australia's number nine was a doughty contributor to a stand which was only ended just before tea, when - the new ball having failed to swing - Dhoni switched once again to spin.

The breakthrough finally came when Lee edged Harbhajan straight to Rahul Dravid for 35, and at the interval the score was 249-8.

A possible century came into view for Watson when he pulled and drove Harbhajan for more boundaries early in the final session.

But Mishra was posing a bigger threat, and a leg-spinner that pitched on leg stump and straightened elicited a concerted appeal - and this time Koertzen did give Watson out lbw.

Peter Siddle was smoothly stumped off another classic leg-break and Mishra had his five-wicket haul.

There was no surprise that Dhoni did not enforce the follow-on, with only a four-man bowling attack at his disposal and the wicket still playing well. Gambhir, timing his drives to perfection, and Sehwag - who clubbed the ball effectively into the gaps - then enjoyed themselves to the hilt as the shadows lengthened.

It was a tired-looking Australia side who dragged themselves off the field at the end of the day.

Don't make us favourites yet: Scolari

AFP, Middlesbrough

Luiz Felipe Scolari insists it is too early to start billing Chelsea as Premier League title favourites.

Scolari's unbeaten league leaders are most bookmakers' tip for the title and their stunning 5-0 demolition of Middlesbrough on Saturday will only have shortened the odds on them wresting the crown away from Manchester United.

But the Brazilian coach is anxious to dampen expectations with two-thirds of the season still to run, and he insisted:

"We're not the favourites. We've got so many games in front of us, and we have to take one at a time."

Chelsea haven't lost in the league for 10 months, but the manager says he will only start to believe he can claim the title in his first season in charge if they remain in pole position as the campaign reaches its climax in May.

He added: "If we're six points in front after 35 or 36 games, then I'd say we're favourites, okay. But before then, we need to play every game as if it's our last of the season and see where that takes us because there's still such a long way to go."

Chelsea's latest convincing win, which came despite the absence of 100 million pounds of talent through injury, will not be lost on their title rivals.

But Scolari added: "I don't think about Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool, I'm just thinking about my team.

"I'm not really looking to see how they're doing, because my job is with Chelsea. I don't think this result sends out a message to them, but more to me that the players who I brought into the team can do a job as regulars if needed.

"It's fantastic for us because I put some players in who haven't played many games, and they showed me they're in good shape for the first team. That's what I want, a good spirit in the group because we're not just an 11, we're a squad."

Two goals from Salomon Kalou and others from Juliano Belletti, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda ensured Middlesbrough were outclassed by a Chelsea side missing seven first-team regulars.

Despite the five-star display, Scolari is happy for Chelsea to grind their way to the title, and he added: "If we win all our games 1-0 until the end of the season we'll be the Champions."

Didier Drogba is set for an imminent return from injury as Chelsea's casualty list at last shows signs of easing.

Wednesday's Champions League meting with AS Roma comes too soon, but the striker hasn't yet been ruled out of next Sunday's Premier League meeting with title rivals Liverpool.

Scolari revealed: "In another week I should have Drogba, I hope he's okay for the Liverpool game, or it might be one more week before he's back."

The quality of Chelsea's performance was no consolation to Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who described the defeat as a "humiliation," and warned that his side must improve if they are to avoid slipping back towards the relegation battle.

"You lose at home and it is hard to take," said the former England defender. "But when you are beaten like that, it is a very humbling experience for all of us.

"There's a danger when you play a side of Chelsea's class that that can happen, but I don't think they had to be at their best, and yet they annihilated us."

He added: "It's a lonely place when you are standing on the touchline and your own fans are very disgruntled with things, and understandably so. It's painful, but we have to learn from the experience as a group."

Farashganj SC, Rahmatganj MFS earn identical 1-0 win

UNB, Dhaka

Farashganj Sporting Club beat Khulna Abahani by a solitary goal in a match of the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Narsingdi Stadium on Sunday.

With this outcome, Farashganj SC secured seven points from five matches, while Khulna Abahani remained at three points playing six matches.

After a barren first half, foreign recruit Johnson scored the match- winner (1-0) for Farashganj SC in the 69th minute.

In the day's other match, Rahmatganj MFS defeated Chittagong Abahani, also by 1-0 goal, at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium.

Foreign recruit Felix scored the all-important goal for the old Dhaka team in the 35th minute.

Today's match (Oct 22): Sheikh Russell KC vs Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (BNS 5 pm).

Inter-Services Basketball meet begins in Chittagong

UNB, Chittagong

The Inter-Services Basketball Competition, organised by Bangladesh Navy, began at the BNS Issa Khan Sports Complex here on Sunday.

Commandant of Artillery Center and School Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hasan Nasir inaugurated the meet as chief guest.

Hosts Bangladesh Navy faced Bangladesh Air Force in the opening match on Sunday.

Cricket Coaching Camp for Girls begins Nov 5

UNB, Dhaka

The Women's wing of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has arranged a non-residential cricket coaching camp for girls of Dhaka Metropolitan City, scheduled to begin here on November 5.

Girls of class VI-XII are eligible to register their names for the camp by October 28.

Interested girls are requested to register names with their address and contact number to the Women's Wing of Bangladesh Cricket Board at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, said a BCB press release today.

Matuail Udayan edges past BG Press 1-0

UNB, Dhaka

After a 23-day break, the Metropolises Second Division Football League began on Sunday as Matuail Udayan Sangsad beat BG Press S&RC by a solitary goal in the day's lone match at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium at Kamalapur in the city.

Mokles Ahmed scored the all-important goal for the winners in the 60th minute.

Monday's match: Dhanmondi Club vs Kadamtala Sangsad 1:45 pm; East End Club vs Basabo Tarun Sangha (3:30 pm), both at Kamalapur stadium.

Bangladesh face Vietnam in last group B match

today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh meets Vietnam Monday in their last group B match of the traditional Merdeka Cup Football tournament at the Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

The match will kick off at 4:30 pn (BST).

Bangladesh will take to the field against Vietnam as a mere formality as they are already out of the tournament losing the previous two matches.

Bangladesh lost their group opening match against top favorite Mozambique on Thursday, and again conceded defeat to Myanmar in the second match on Saturday, both by identical 1-0 margin at the same venue.