The New Nation - Internet Edition

Barisal take 158-run 1st innings lead over Dhaka

UNB, Dhaka

Barisal Division took 158 runs first innings lead after dismissing Dhaka Division cheaply for 116 runs on the 2nd day of the four-day 5th round match of Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra on Monday.

Barisal Division, which resumed the first innings today with 230 for 4, were all out for 274 in 110 overs.

Opener Nasiruddin Faruq, who was batting with 106 runs, returned to the pavilion adding only three runs today. His 264-ball innings of 109 runs featured 10 boundaries.

Another night-watch batsman Raisul Islam (15) contributed 39 runs off 120 balls with five fours while lower order Sajedul Islam made 15 with one four and a six.

Elias Sunny, who grabbed two wickets for 61 runs on Sunday, claimed three more wickets today to finish with 30-6-63-5 while Al Hamim took two wickets for 66 runs.

In reply, Dhaka Division opened the first innings in the morning and were bundled out for paltry 116 runs in 45.2 overs to trail Barisal by 158 runs.

Middle order Marshal Ayub (31), lower order Nadif Chowdhury (not out 27), wicket keeper Anwar Hossain (18) and opener Javed Omar (11) were the notable Dhaka batsmen who reached the double figures.

National colour pacer Talha Jubair picked up four wickets for 30 runs while new ball bowler Sajedul Islam grabbed two wickets for 27 runs.

In the late afternoon, Barisal opened the 2nd innings and scored 38 for 2 in 13 overs at stumps on day two with first innings century maker Nasiruddin Faruk and Tariqul Islam batting with 21 runs and zero.

Nazmul Hossain and Ashraful Haque shared one wicket each for 4 and 18 runs respectively.

Brief score:

Barisal Division 1st innings - 274 all out in 110 overs ;(230 for 4 in 90 overs), Nasiruddin Faruque 109, Imran Ahmed 54, Raisul Islam 39, Nasir Hossain 25, Shaheen Hossain 14, Sajedul Islam 15, Rony Talukder 13, extras 3, Elias Sunny 5/63, Al Hamim 2/66

2nd innings - 38 for 2 in 13 overs; Nasiruddin Faruk batting 21,Rony Talukder 12, Shaheen Hossain 4, Nazmul Hossain 1/4, Ashraful Haque 1/18.

Dhaka Division first innings - 116 all out in 45.2 overs; Marshall Ayub 31, Nadif Chowdhury nout out 27, Anwar Hossain 18, Javed Omar 11, extras 17, Talha Jubaer 4/30, Sajedul Islam 2/27.

In another match, hosts Chittagong Division resumed the first innings with 225 for 5 and finally scored 293 for all in 115.5 overs against Sylhet Division on the 2nd day at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong today.

Chittagong Division's middle order batsman Faisal Hossain Dickens, who resumed batting with 85 runs, scored 129 runs off 267 balls with 21 boundaries. Opener Gazi Salauddin scored 50 runs, while another night watch batsman Rezaul Karim (18) made 31 with five fours.

Nabil Samad, who took four wickets for 46 runs on Sunday, stole the show today taking four more wickets to finish with eight wickets for 69 runs in 38.5 overs.

In reply, Sylhet Division scored 195 runs for 9 in 64 overs to trail Chittagong by 98 runs in the first innings.

Rashedur Rahman and Shubashish Roy were batting with 29 and 4 runs respectively while Rajin Saleh (43), Saikat Ali (40), Ejaz Ahmed (22) and Mohammad Mithun were the other contributors for Sylhet Division.

Raihan Uddin and Mohammad Younus claimed two wickets each for 52 and 42 runs respectively

Chittagong Division 1st innings - 293 all out in 115.5 overs (Overnight 225 for 5 in 90 overs), Faisal Hossain 129, Gazi Salahuddin 50, Nadimuddin 31, Rezaul Karim 31, Nafees Iqbal 23, extras 10, Nabil 8/69.

Sylhet Division - 195 for 9 in 64 overs. Rajin saleh 43, Saikat Ali 40, Rashedur Rahman batting 29, Ezaz Ahmed 22, Mohammad Mithun 18, extras 14, Mohammad Younus 2/42, Raihanuddin 2/52.

India clinch series 2-0

AP, Nagpur

Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra combined for seven wickets as India handed Australia just its second series defeat in three years, completing a 172-run victory Monday to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2-0.

The top-ranked Australians were dismissed for 209 in 50.2 overs just before tea on the last day, chasing an unlikely 382 to win the fourth and final test and force a 1-1 series draw.

Spinners Harbhajan (4-64) and Mishra (3-27) built on the fine early work of paceman Ishant Sharma, who took 2-31, and only when opener Matthew Hayden plundered 77 did the Indians look in any danger of giving up their advantage.

India, which last held the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2004, took the lead in the series with an emphatic, 320-run victory in the second test in Mohali last month.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's captain-elect following the retirement of Anil Kumble after the third test, said the series win over Australia was a fitting farewell to international cricket for Kumble and Sourav Ganguly, another former captain.

"It's very important. It's one of the series everybody was looking up to. It's more than the India-Pakistan rivalry right now," he said in a post-match interview. "It was important to catch the moment."

Ganguly, who bowed out with 85 and 0, said it was time to step down and he was happy to exit on a high.

"We played outstandingly to win 2-0 against the best team in the world, it is very, very satisfying," he said.

Australia's previous test series defeat occurred in England in 2005 when Ricky Posting's lineup handed over the Ashes for the first time in almost two decades.

"It's been a fair result, to tell you the truth," Ponting said.

"From the start of the second test in Mohali, we've been chasing our tails and India deserve the 2-0 result.

"It would have been an unbelievable run-chase if we could have got there today - with wearing wickets and good spinners, and fast bowlers doing their job, after lunch we were out of the game. We weren't good enough here or in Mohali."

The Australians, who resumed Monday at 13-0, needed the fourth-highest successful chase in test history to pull off a series-leveling win and began wanting 369 runs in 90 overs.

They scored 98 in the first session but lost three wickets by lunch - including two in the first six overs - and another seven went after the break.

When Hayden and Michael Hussey were sharing a bright 68-run stand for the fourth wicket Australia had a slim chance of staying in touch, but they were removed in consecutive overs to leave the tourists struggling at 154-5.

Hussey received a sharp delivery from Mishra's first over and the ball lobbed to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Hayden's cavalier innings came to an end when he was lbw to a quicker ball from Harbhajan in the next over.

The opener had stroked eight fours and a big six over long-on during his 93-ball knock, but needed more help from his partners to push Australia closer to the formidable total.

Things improved for India when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (4) chipped to Sachin Tendulkar at mid-on, giving Mishra his second wicket and Tendulkar his 100th test catch.

Australia then lost 7-59 and the match ended when Harbhajan got an lbw decision against No. 11 Mitchell Johnson.

"We've been totally outplayed," Ponting said. "With the exception of the first test in Bangalore, in every other game we've got back to level and never got in front.

"Coming here on the third morning I was really upbeat at where the game was going, then India adapted a certain style of play and made it difficult to score and chipped in with a few wickets."

Sharma, who was man of the series for his 15 wickets, was the best of the bowlers in the morning session, but it was Mishra and Harbhajan who created the most trouble.

Sharma struck in the fifth over when opener Simon Katich (16) skied an attempted pull shot and wicketkeeper Dhoni took a running catch in front of his slips.

Australia's situation worsened in the next over when Ponting (8) was run-out by Mishra's direct hit and Clarke followed for 22 before lunch.

Australia will play New Zealand in a two-test series starting next week and India will host England in seven limited-overs internationals and two tests.

Channel i, Bangla Vision, Bhorer Kagoj in quarter-finals

Sports Reporter

Channel i, Bangla Vision, Bhorer Kagoj moved into the quarter-finals of the Pepsi-DRU Inter-House Cricket Tournament on Monday.

Channel i (71/1) beat Inqilab ( 63/5) by eight runs at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium. Saidur Rahman Shamim of Channel i was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Bangla Vision (18/0 ) drubbed Korotowa (17/5) by five wickets at the same venue. Mahfuz of Bangla Vision earned the prize of the Man of the Match.

Bhorer Kagoj 60/2) edged past Jugantor (58/5) by two runs at the same venue. Akhteruzzaman of Bhorer Kagoj achieved the prize of the Man of the Match.

Samakal (36/0) smashed New Age (33/5 ) by five wickets at the same venue. Shamir Kumar Dey of Samakal gained the prize of the Man of the Match.

Amader Aurthonity (77/0) defeated Sangram (56/5) by 21 runs at the same venue. Redwan of Amader Aurthonity was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Meanwhile, Jonopod got walkover from Bangladesh Television on the same day.

Today's matches :

The New Nation vs Banglabazar (10.00 AM )

Jonopod vs Amader Aurthonity (10.00 AM )

Amar Desh vs Samakal (11.00 AM )

The Daily Ittefaq vs Daily Star (11.00 AM )

Destiny vs Independent (12.00 Noon )

BRAC Bank sponsors chess Olympiad team: Bangladesh Chess team leaves for Germany today

Sports Reporter

BRAC Bank Limited is sponsoring Bangladesh Chess team, which will take part in the 38th Chess Olympiad scheduled to be held in Dresden of Germany from November 12 to November 25. BRAC Bank Limited has given TK four lakh to Bangladesh Chess Federation. Bangladesh Chess team will leave the city today for Dresden to participate in the chess meet.

To mark the sponsorship a press conference was held at the conference room of National Sports Council on Monday. General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) Jamilur Rahman, Secretary General of Bangladesh Olympic Association Kutubuddin Ahmed, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs of BRAC Bank Limited Abedur Rahman Sikder were present at the conference, among others.

The 15-member Bangladesh Chess team, which will compete in the open division of chess meet are : Grand Master (GM ) Ziaur Rahman, GM Enamul Hossain Rajib, GM Abdullah Al Rakib, Fide Master(FM) Abu Sufian Shakil, FM Minhajuddin Ahmed Sagor.

The members of the women's team are : International Master Rani Hamid, FM Shamima Akhter Liza, Nazrana Khan Iva, FM Syeda Shabana Parvin Nipa, FM Tonima Parvin.

The captain of the men team is Czek GM and Coach Igors Rawsis, who will also take part in the competition.

The captain of the women team is : Mohammad Jahangir Alam.

Bangladesh play Myanmar today in opening group A match

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh play their opening Group A match against hosts Myanmar in the six-team 3rd Grand Royal Challenge Cup that begins today (Tuesday) at the National Stadium in Yangon.

The match will kick off at 3 pm (BST).

Bangladesh has been placed in group A with strong Indonesia and hosts Myanmar, while group B comprises Vietnam, Malaysia and Hyundai FC.

In the remaining group match, Bangladesh will play against Indonesia on Nov 13.

Two top teams from each of the two groups will play the semi-finals on Nov 18 and 19, while the final match is slated for Nov 21.

Bangladesh team reached Yangon on Nov 9.

Bangladesh squad: Motiur Munna (captain), Aminul Haq, Biplob Bhattacharya, Rajani Kanta Barman, Mohammad Sujan (vice captain), Wali Faisal, Ariful Islam, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Enamul Haq Sharif, Kazi Mozammel Hossain Saikat, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Zahid Hasan Emily, Mohammad Robin, Zahid Hossain, Arman Aziz, Alfaz Ahmed, Atiqur Rahman Mishu and Zahed Pervez Chowdhury.

National Swimming Competition begins tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

The 23rd Mercantile Bank National Swimming Competition, organized by Bangladesh Swimming Federation, will be held on November 12-15 at the Mirpur National Swimming Complex in the city.

District and divisional sports associations, Services teams, educational institutions and other organisations will take part in the 4-day meet, sponsored by Mercantile Bank Ltd.

A total of 348 swimmers -- 271 men and 77 women - representing 29 teams will take part in 38 events -- 19 for men and 19 for women.

Of the estimated budget of Tk 1.1 million (11 lakh), sponsor Mercantile Bank will provide Tk 1.0 million (10 lakh) to run the competition.

The best swimmer from men's and women's groups will receive Tk 20,000 each as cash prize, while the emerging swimmer from men's and women's groups will get Tk 10,000 each.

Swimming Federation general secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shaheen disclosed the details at a press conference at the National Sports Council (NSC) conference room on Monday afternoon.

Mercantile Bank managing director Dewan Mujibur Rahman and Swimming Federation senior vice president Alhaj Mohammad Solaiman were present.