The New Nation - Internet Edition

Asif earns individual gold: Bangladesh earn two gold medals in South Asian Shooting

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh earns two gold medals in the very first day of the 4th South Asian Shooting Championship held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday.

Commonwealth and SAF Games gold winning Bangladeshi shooter Asif Hossain Khan clinched the individual gold medal in the men's 10-meter Air Rifles shooting scoring 694.3.

Another famed shooter Imam Hossain won the event's bronze medal scoring 689.8.

The Bangladesh team comprising celebrated shooter Asif Hossain Khan, veteran Saiful Alam Rinki and Imam Hossain also won the team event's gold of the men's 10-meter Air Rifles Shooting.

In the women's 50-meter prone, Bangladeshi shooters earned bronze medals in both individual and team events.

Olympian shooter Sabrian Sultana won the event's individual bronze medal scoring 581 while Bangladesh team consists of Sabrina Sultana, Tripti Dutta and Sharmin Shilpa bagged team event's bronze.

Meanwhile, President of Bangladesh Shooting Federation Major General Mohammad Ashab Uddin and Acting General Secretary Ferdous Ara Khanam congratulated Bangladeshi shooters for their feat in the South Asian Shooting and hoped that the Bangladeshi shooters will earn more gold medals from the meet.

South Africa seal innings victory

AFP, Bloemfontein

Fast bowler Dale Steyn took five wickets as South Africa beat Bangladesh by an innings and 129 runs on the fourth day of the first Test at Springbok Park Saturday.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 159 in their follow-on innings, with the match ending 20 minutes before lunch. The left- handed Mehrab Hossain was the only batsman to provide sustained resistance, making 43 not out.

Steyn took five for 63. It was the ninth five-wicket haul in 26 Tests for Steyn, the International Cricket Council's Test cricketer of the year.

Overnight batsmen Mohammad Ashraful and Hossain survived the first half hour without any major alarms before Makhaya Ntini switched to bowling around the wicket.

His first delivery after the change reared up at Ashraful who could only fend the ball to Neil McKenzie at gully.

It was the start of a disastrous period for Bangladesh as three wickets fell for one run in 11 balls.

Shakib Al Hasan was undone by the pace of Steyn, caught behind as he tried to withdraw his bat, before first innings topscorer Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for nought after a mix-up with Mehrab Hossain.

After that Bangladesh were doomed to an early defeat, with Steyn having Naeem Islam caught behind off a classic fast bowler's away swinger. Mashrafe Mortaza was bowled before Mehrab Hossain and Shahadat Hossain put on 44 for the ninth wicket.

Shahadat, whose stand of 60 with Mushfiqur Rahim was the best of the first innings, again lived dangerously as he made 16 before he was bowled by Steyn.

Jacques Kallis completed South Africa's win when he had last

man Mahbubul Alam caught at mid-on.

Scoreboard

Scoreboard Saturday at the finish on day four of the first of two tests between South Africa and Bangladesh at OUTsurance Oval:

South Africa, 1st Innings 441-9 decl.

Bangladesh, 1st Innings 153

Bangladesh, 2nd Innings

(Overnight 67-3)

Tamim Iqbal c Boucher b Ntini 20

Imrul Kayes b Steyn 4

Junaid Siddique c Boucher b Kallis 27

Mohammad Ashraful c McKenzie

b Ntini 13

Mehrab Hossain Jr. not out 43

Shakib Al Hasan c Boucher b Steyn 0

Mushfiqur Rahim run out (Prince) 0

Naeem Islam c Boucher b Steyn 3

Mashrafe Mortaza b Steyn 6

Shahadat Hossain b Steyn 16

Mahbubul Alam c Prince b Kallis 0

Extras (7b, 17lb, 3nb): 27

TOTAL: 159

Overs: 51.5.

Batting time: 245 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-45, 3-67, 4-80, 5-81, 6-81, 7-92, 8-108,

9-152, 10-159.

Bowling: Dale Steyn 18-4-63-5, Makhaya Ntini 16-8-19-2, Morne

Morkel 13-6-36-0 (3nb), Jacques Kallis 4.5-0-17-2.

Umpires: Steve Davis, Australia and Ian Gould, England.

TV umpire: Marais Erasmus, South Africa. Match referee: Alan

Hurst, Australia.

Toss: won by Bangladesh.

Result: South Africa won by an innings and 129 runs.

Series: South Africa leads 1-0.

Sri Lanka hammer woeful Zimbabwe

BBC Online

Zimbabwe were all out for just 67 as Sri Lanka took a 2-0 series lead with a crushing nine-wicket victory in the second one-day international in Harare.

The tourists needed just 17.4 overs to clinch the win after Ajantha Mendis had taken 4-15 in Zimbabwe's collapse.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, but Sri Lanka wasted little time in ripping through the order with Tatenda Taibu top scoring with 12.

Upul Tharanga (26) and Kumar Sangakkara (28) guided their team to victory.

The five-match series - with all games being played in Harare - continues on Monday.

Div I Hockey: Barnak draw with Bachelors

Sports Reporter

Barnak Samaj made a 2-2 draw with Bachelors SC in their Super League encounter of the Green Delta Insurance First Division Hockey League at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Barnak had a 1-0 lead in the first half.

Mithun, Proshenjit of Barnak Samaj scored one goal each while Danesh, Taleb of Bachelors netted one each.

Div II Football: Uttar Baridhara, Karwanbazar win

Sports Reporter

Uttar Baridhara Club and Karwanbazar Progoti Sangha registered easy wins in their respective matches of the Second Division Football League on Saturday.

In the day's second match, Uttar Baridhara Club blanked Euro Famous Club 3-0 at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium.

Dulal of Uttar Baridhara Club scored two goals and his teammate Shawpan netted one.Uttar Baridhara Club led the points table securing 36 points from 14 matches while Euro Famous Club remained with 15 poins from as many outings.

In the day's first match, Karwanbazar progoti sangha outplayed Little Friends Club by three goals to nil at the same venue.

Tara of Karwanbazar struck twice and his teammate Sanjid scored one goal.

Karwanbazar progoti Sangha collected 39 points from 14 matches while Little Friends Club earned 17 poins from as many matches.

Today Dhanmondi Club will face Police AC while Kadamtala Sangsad will meet Karwanbazar Progoti Sangha and East End Club will take on Friends Social Welfare Organisation at the same venue.

Tokai Kabaddi: Dholpur will face Stadium team in final today

Sports Reporter

Dholpur Tokai team reached the final of the Orient Bread Second Tokai Kabaddi Competition when they defeated Matuail Tokai Kabaddi team by 65-48 points including four lonas in their Super Three match at the Dhaka Kabaddi Stadium on Saturday.

Today Dholpur Tokai Kabaddi team will take on Stadium Tokai Kabaddi team in the final at the same venue.

After the final match President of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation and Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Nur Mohammad will distribute the prizes among the winners as the chief guest while Managing Director of Orient Food Company Mahbubuzzaman will be along with him as the special guest.

Trinidad & Tobago reaches WICB Cup final

AP, Georgetown

Kieron Pollard hit 76 and took 3-38 in leading Trinidad and Tobago to the WICB Cup final by ousting defending champion Jamaica by three wickets in the semifinals on

Friday.

Trinidad scored 200-7 off 47 overs, surpassing Jamaica's 197-8 off 50 at Guyana National Stadium.

Pollard, who featured in the Stanford Superstars' crushing $20 million Twenty20 defeat of England this month, cracked his second half-century in his second innings of the one-day tournament.

Unbeaten Trinidad, last year's runner-up, will face the winner of Saturday's semifinal between Barbados and the Leeward Islands. The final is on Sunday.

Pollard took the wickets of Danza Hyatt, captain Tamar Lambert with a high score of 55 and Yanick Elliott in helping to limit Jamaica to under four runs an over. Spinner Rishi Bachan claimed 2-34.

In reply, Trinidad started shakily after Adrian Barath and captain Daren Ganga were out for ducks off medium-pacer Dave Bernard to make it 7-2. Lendl Simmons (24) and Darren Bravo (41) combined for 54 for the third wicket and Pollard steadied the chase before Lambert paid him back by trapping him lbw.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Kiwis stun Australia to win World Cup

BBC Online

New Zealand stunned Australia to win the Rugby League World Cup for the first time after a thrilling game rich in drama and controversy.

The Kangaroos led 16-12 at the break, thanks largely to two tries from skipper Darren Lockyer.

Lance Hohaia and Benji Marshall scores put the Kiwis 22-16 in front before Greg Inglis touched down in the corner.

The Kiwis were awarded a penalty try after Joel Monagahn impeded Hohaia before Adam Blair sealed victory.

It was the game that the tournament so badly needed - and the victory for New Zealand rubbished the notion that the World Cup was nothing more than a victory procession for the Kangaroos.

Australia had held the trophy since 1975 and were undefeated in the current tournament, including a 30-6 win over New Zealand in their opening game.

The home nation will no doubt point to crucial decisions from referee Ashley Klein and video official Steve Ganson that went against their team, but after building a 10-0 lead they only have themselves to blame after a night when they made a series of uncharacteristic errors.

But the Kiwis had steadily improved through the tournament and put together a performance of skill, determination and power - and in doing so inflicted one of the greatest upsets in modern-day sport.

New Zealand started the match with aggression and energy, dominating the collision and enjoying territorial advantage.

Stephen Kearney's team should have translated their fine start into an early lead but Marshall - under no pressure - could not touch down Nathan Fien's beautifully weighted low kick.

And the underdog's failure to score was punished in the most emphatic manner when Billy Slater's curved run took him through a gap in the New Zealand defence.

The full-back, this week named world player of the year, burst forward before slipping an inside pass for Lockyer to score on his 50th international appearance.

Australia led 10-0 and the Kiwis were reeling. Had Lockyer not lost control as he touched down a grubber kick from Cameron Smith the final would surely have been rendered meaningless as a contest.

Katich ton puts Australia on top

Reuters, Brisbane

Simon Katich's unbeaten century put Australia on course for a probable victory in the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane. Katich hit an unbeaten 131, his sixth Test century, to see his side to a second innings total of 268.

It left the Kiwis a target of 327 but Brett Lee claimed his 300th Test wicket as they slumped to 49-4.

Only Ross Taylor was able to combat the home side's attack and his 67 not out saw New Zealand to 143-6 at the close.

The loss of both Daniel Flynn and Grant Elliott in the final five overs of play were crucial blows for New Zealand.

Flynn was bowled by Mitchell Johnson for 29 after helping Taylor add 84 for the fifth wicket and Elliott went to Stuart Clark for nought, giving Clark figures of 3-23.

The tourists ended play 184 away from their target and their hopes of an unlikely win almost entirely dependent on Taylor and skipper Daniel Vettori.

The day began with Australia only 189 ahead on 131-6, but the tail provided Katich with the support he required to tip the balance in their favour.

The left-hander's century arrived off 179 balls but he had two slices of luck on 70 and 86, with Iain O'Brien failing to hold a return catch and Jesse Ryder dropping a chance at short leg off Vettori's left-arm spin.

Vettori was rewarded for an excellent spell when he bowled Brad Haddin (19) and Brett Lee (seven).

But Johnson outscored Katich in a stand of 53, contributing 31 to Australia's cause before he was caught by Vettori off Elliott's medium-pace.

Katich ran out of partners when Tim Southee accounted for last man Clark, who hit four boundaries in his 18 off 12 balls, but had the satisfaction of becoming only the 10th Australian to carry his bat through a Test innings - and the first to do so for 10 years.

"When we started losing wickets yesterday, I had to knuckle down and try to get a big score. Thankfully I was able to do that," said Katich.

"I just tried to break it down ball by ball, the basics of batting, and get through each over. I had some good partnerships with the tail which helps."

The eyes of home supporters were on Lee at the start of New Zealand's second innings and it only took him three deliveries to claim his 300th Test wicket when Jamie How edged an attempted drive to second slip.

He was expensive thereafter, conceding 53 from nine overs, but Clark was his usual tidy self at the other end and struck a second blow with a juggling caught and bowled to send Aaron Redmond on his way for 10.

New Zealand suffered another double blow following the tea interval with Ryder (24) and Brendon McCullum (three) leg-before to Johnson and Clark.

But Taylor and Flynn, New Zealand's leading scorers in the first innings with 40 and 39 not out, continued their good form in a partnership which occupied 23 overs.

Taylor hit six fours in a 79-ball half century but Flynn was unable to keep him company to stumps and the New Zealand's disappointment at his dismissal was compounded by Elliott's exit, bowled offering no shot to the final ball of the day.

Australia, however, were taking nothing for granted after play had concluded.

"The game is well and truly not over yet. Vettori has made runs in the past, Taylor's batting beautifully at the moment, so they're both danger men," said Katich.

"Hopefully we can get through that partnership and then chip away at the tail."

New Zealand have called off-spinner Jeetan Patel into their squad for the second Test in Adelaide. He replaces seam bowler Kyle Mills, who will be returning home.

Maradona lauds captain Mascherano

AP, Buenos Aires

Diego Maradona says captain Javier Mascherano is the only player with a guaranteed spot on the Argentina roster in every match.

"Beside Mascherano, no one has a position assured, whatever his name may be," Maradona told Buenos Aires-based La Red radio on Thursday.

Mascherano, the Liverpool midfielder, debuted as Argentina captain on Wednesday in the 1-0 win over Scotland at Glasgow, also giving Maradona a win on debut as coach.

He chose Mascherano as captain when he took over, replacing Javier Zanetti.

Neither Lionel Messi nor Juan Roman Riquelme played against Scotland as requested by their clubs Barcelona and Boca Juniors.

While Maradona said the pair was a key part of his vision for a stronger national team, he made it clear they're not as necessary as Mascherano.

"I love Roman (Riquelme). I told him he's my player. And I told Messi, too. But it depends on how they adapt to what we're trying to do," Maradona said.

"Of course they've earned themselves a place on the national team, but we can't give away anything and we have to go with players that run and have the national team spirit."