The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sylhet scores 256 for 5 against Dhaka

UNB, Dhaka

Riding on Rajin Saleh's 94 runs, Sylhet Division were 256 for 5 in 90 overs against hosts Dhaka Division on the first day of the four day 7th round match of the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

Sent into bat first, Sylhet Division lost two top order batsmen -- opener Saikat Ali (14) and one down Mohammad Mithun (9) -- cheaply for 29 runs in 10.2 overs. But Rajin Saleh confidently stayed on the crease to carry the team total to a respectable position making two good partnerships with opener Imtiaz Hossain and number five Kamrul Islam.

Former national vice-captain cum top order batsman Rajin Saleh, who came to bat at number four, scored 70 runs in the 3rd wicket stand with opener Imtiaz Hossain and contributed 134 runs in the 4th wicket partnership with Kamrul Islam.

Rajin Saleh's 218-ball innings of 94 runs featured 12 boundaries before he was caught by Elias Sunny off a Mohammad Azim delivery, while Kamrul Islam was batting with 56 runs off 179 deliveries that included seven fours.

Opener Imtiaz Hossain scored 58 runs off 82 balls with 11 fours, while Rezaul Haque made not out 13 off 17 balls with two fours.

Mohammad Azim picked up three wickets for 46 runs while Elias Sunny and Ashraful Haque took one wicket each for 27 and 52 runs respectively.

Brief score: Sylhet Division first innings - 256 for 5 in 90 overs. Rajin Saleh 94, Kamrul Islam batting 56, Imtiaz Ahmed 58, Saikat Ali 14, Rezaul Haque batting 13, Mohammad Mithun 9, Ejaz Ahmed 4, extras 8, Mohammad Azim 3/46, Elias Sunny 1/27 and Ashraful Haque 1/52.

In the day's another match at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong, Rajshahi Division batted first after winning the toss and were all out for 240 in 88.5 overs against hosts Chittagong Division on the first day of the four day 7th round national league match despite of a half century by Suhrawardy Shuvo.

All rounder Suhrawardy Shuvo contributed team highest 56 runs off 162 balls with four fours before he was trapped leg before by Masum-Ud-Dowla.

Besides, skipper Anisur Rahman (37), Sabbir Rahman (36), Jahurul Islam (31) and Hamidul Islam (24) were the other major contributors for Rajshahi Division.

Masum Ud Dowla, Rezaul Karim, Kamrul Islam and Mohammad Younus claimed two wickets apiece for 21, 25, 35 and 40 runs respectively.

Brief score: Rajshahi Division first innings - 240 all out in 88.5 overs. Suhrawardy Shuvo 56, Anisur Rahman 37, Sabbir Rahman 36, Jahurul Islam 31, Hamidul Islam 24, Khaled Mashud Pilot 14, Farhad Hossain 10, extras 11, Masum-ud Dowla 2/21, Rezaul Karim 2/25, Kamrul Islam 2/35 and Mohammad Younus 2/40.

In the day's other match at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Motiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna, league leaders Barisal Division opened the innings first after winning the toss and scored 240 for 8 in 90 overs with two half century by Nasiruddin Faruk and Shaheen Hossain.

Opener Nasiruddin Faruk scored 61 runs off 138 balls with six fours and a six, while lower order batsman cum wicket-keeper Shaheen Hossain made 58 off 134 balls with eight fours.

Besides, Tariqul Islam (batting 28), Raisul Islam (22), Arafat Salahuddin (22), Rony Talukder (21) and Monwar Hossain (batting 12) were the other Barisal batsmen who reached double figures.

Rabiul Islam grabbed three wickets for 48 runs, while national pacer Dollar Mahmud took two for 46.

Brief score: Barisal Division first innings - 240 for 8 in 90 overs; Nasiruddin Faruk 61, Shaheen Hossain 58, Tariqul Islam batting 28, Raisul Islam 22, Arafat Salahuddin 22, Rony Talukder 21, Monwar Hossain batting 12, extras 11, Rabiul Islam 3/43, Dollar Mahmud 2/46, Ziaur Rahman 1/49.

India win fourth one-dayer to clinch series

AP, Bangalore

India won the fourth limited-overs international against England by 19 runs Sunday in a rain-reduced game to take an unassailable 4-0 lead in the seven-match series.

India scored 166-4 off 22 overs after two rain interruptions. Chasing a daunting victory target of 198 off 22 overs set under the Duckworth-Lewis system, England could only manage 178-8 despite a valiant 72 from Owais Shah.

Shah and Andrew Flintoff (41) put on 82 runs off 48 deliveries for the fourth wicket, but England's challenge faded after they fell in successive overs.

Paces Zaheer Khan (2-20) and Munaf Patel (2-22) bowled economical, controlled spells to rein in England's batsmen.

Earlier, heavy showers led to the loss of more than five hours playing time, but the ground staff worked hard to salvage a game which England needed to win to stay alive in the series.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised his bowlers for delivering the victory despite having problems gripping the wet ball.

"Because of the wet outfield, the ball became soggy and it was not easy to grip the ball," Dhoni said.

"We have one specialist spinner in Harbhajan Singh and some part-time spin bowlers, who all found it tough to grip the ball. But Zaheer bowled very well," he said.

England captain Kevin Pietersen said his team was beaten "by an Indian side which is playing fantastic cricket."

"Owais batted really well today and Freddie helped him out with a good contribution," said Pietersen, who added that England would try to stay competitive in the remaining three games despite the series being lost

"We want to make sure this series stays as competitive as possible," he said.

India's run-scoring was led by Virender Sehwag's 57-ball 69.

India was 106-1 in 17 overs when the second rain break occurred, leaving it just five overs to boost its scoring.

India lost Sehwag soon after the resumption, but Yuvraj Singh's unbeaten 25 off 11 deliveries helped the hosts add 60 runs in five overs.

Yuvraj struck three sixes, seeing Gautam Gambhir (40) and skipper Mahendra Dhoni (nine) fall at the other end before Yusuf Pathan hoisted the last ball - the only delivery he faced - over the fence.

Posting his 32nd half-century in 195 limited-overs internationals, Sehwag racked up 6,000 runs in one-dayers when he reached 36. He has also scored nine hundreds.

Sehwag struck three sixes and nine boundaries before lofting a delivery from off-spinner Graeme Swann into the hands of James Anderson at long-on. Gambhir also fell to the same combination.

Put in to bat first after England skipper Kevin Pietersen won the toss, India had earlier lost opener Sachin Tendulkar for 11, bowled by Stuart Broad.

Tendulkar had not featured in a one-dayer since the tri-series victory over Australia in March.

A groin injury ruled Tendulkar out of the series in Bangladesh and Pakistan earlier in the year, and an elbow injury kept him out of the one-dayer against Sri Lanka in August. He was left out of the team for the first three matches of the current series after requesting a break after the four-test series against Australia that India won 2-0 earlier this month.

England's run chase got off to a jittery start as opener Ravi Bopara (one) fell to paceman Patel in the second over. Ian Bell (12) and skipper Pietersen (five) soon followed as the visitors slumped to 52-3.

Shah and Flintoff revived England through their attacking stroke-play. Shah struck three sixes and nine boundaries off 48 deliveries before becoming Khan's first victim.

Flintoff fell in the next over from pace bowler Ishant Sharma (2-42). His 30-ball knock featured one huge six and three boundaries.

England's hopes finally perished after the dismissal of Paul Collingwood, who made 22 off 14 balls.

Dhaka Abahani play 2-2 draw with Dhaka Mohammedan

UNB, Dhaka

Holders Dhaka Abahani Limited played to a 2-2 goals draw with their arch rival Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the high voltage match of the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday.

Despite draw Dhaka Abahani maintains solo lead with 16 points from seven matches. Dhaka Mohammedan also improved their position securing 12 points from six matches.

In the day's match, Nigerian striker Emeka Chritian Ibe struck twice for Dhaka Abahani, while Alamu Bukola Olalekin, also from Nigeria, and striker Mohammad Rabin netted each for Dhaka Mohammedan. The match was locked 1-1 during the first half.

Dhaka Mohammedan found the net in the 20th minute. Receiving pass from Robin Bukola dodged past advancing opponent custodian Biplob and easily netted the ball (1-0).

Emeka restored the parity for Dhaka Mohammedan in the 40th minute with a push from inside the D-box after taking a close angular pass from Ghanaian striker Awudu Ibrahim (1-1).

After the lemon break, Dhaka Abahani again took lead as Emeka scored his second goal in the 55th minute with a gentle push after Ibrahim's long shot from left wing fell in the goal mouth melee (2-1).

Mohammedan striker Rabin changed the fate of the match, one minute before the long whistle, with a superb angular box shot after taking a left wing lofted shot from substitute Komol, leaving the Abahani fans in deep sorrow.

Both the teams played attacking football and spoiled some scoring chances. Dhaka Mohammedan dominated in the first half while Dhaka Abahani in the second half.

Black & white outfit Dhaka Mohammedan came close to score in the 18th minute, but Sharif's powerful shot from the vantage position went beside the side bar.

Dhaka Mohammedan again got another chance in the 45th minute but this time Abahani custodian Biplob foiled Mohammedan Robin's attempt.

Dhaka Abahani deprived a goal in the 56th minute when Ibrahim powerful shot from 12 yards sailed over the cross bar.

Yellow cards: Biplob, Pranotosh and Joy (Abahani); Nasir and Rabin (Mohammedan)

Today's match: Brothers Union vs Sheikh Russell (BNS at 4:30 pm).

Spirit of Nadal helps Spanish triumph

AFP, Argentina

World number one Rafael Nadal may not have been present in body but Spain plugged into his never-say-die spirit to win the Davis Cup here Sunday, according to defeated Argentine skipper Alberto Mancini.

Nadal, champion with Spain in 2004 on home clay, sat this one out with a knee injury, but Mancini said that stroke of ill- fortune only spurred on his compatriots, who secured a 3-1 success when Fernando Verdasco beat Jose Aacasuso in five sets.

"The Spanish were worthy opponents and played very well. The absence of Nadal only united them all the more," insisted Mancini. "We have a lot to learn from this experience."

Nadal saluted his compatriots, telling Spanish television:"It's an unforgettable moment and they have made history. Fernando was brilliant - absolutely amazing from the fourth set."

Verdasco repaid the compliment. "It's thanks to him we were in the final," the left-hander said.

As the Spanish 'armada' showed their strength in depth with Verdasco and fellow hero Feliciano Lopez, Argentina suffered one injury too many when their top singles player Juan Martin Del Potro injured his groin in going down to Lopez in Friday's singles.

"Argentina suffered because we had two very competitive singles players (with David Nalbandian thrashing David Ferrer to get the hosts off to a winning start) - only for Juan Martin not to be fully fit," Mancini lamented.

"That was an important factor. And one of the others was Spain, who played well."

Acasuso insisted it was not stamina which let him down in his 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 loss in 3hr 56min to Verdasco.

"I felt good physically - otherwise I would not have gone out there on court," insisted Acasuso, who called the trainer to treat apparent stomach cramp as his hopes began to slip away in the last two sets. It was the doubles which helped to do for the Argentines.

In the last 36 years of Davis Cup finals, only three times have the doubles victors not gone on to win the title.

And that statistic held up as the Lopez-Verdasco tandem saw off Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri Saturday in a five- setter.

"It's sad we've lost another final," said Acasuso noting earlier losses in Russia in 2006 and away to the United States in 1981.

"There was a lot of sadness in the locker room after the loss and the fact that three of the four of us lost to Russia two years ago means that the pain was double."

The South Americans had fervently hoped this would finally be their year on home hardcourt but it was not to be.

For the Spanish, the pleasure was heightened after few believed they would come through without Nadal.

"It's like a dream come true - it's the most beautiful day of my life," beamed Verdasco, who wrapped up the contest on his third match point before embracing his squadmates as the home crowd looked on aghast.

Spanish skipper Emilio Sanchez Vicario paid tribute to his man.

"It was an incredible match - all the guys were so nervous. Fernando was just the better player - he's very strong," said Sanchez Vicario, who said his squad would get through "a lot of wine" at their post-match party.

Mancini meanwhile laughed off reports that the team had fallen out with one another after the doubles loss.

"That's just ridiculous," he told reporters. "It's tough to take - we were close in the doubles but we didn't manage it."

Bangladesh beat El Salvador in Chess Olympiad

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh beat El Salvador by 2.5-1.5 points in the 10th round games of Open Section in the 38th Chess Olympiad held in Dresden, Germany yesterday, a Bangladesh Chess Federation press release said here on Monday.

In the 10th round games, Ziaur Rahman (rating- 2510) beat IM Leyva Hector (rating-2372) and Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar (rating- 2377) beat Martinez Nelson (rating-2149), GM Abdullah Al Rakib (rating-2522) drew with IM Arias Lemmys A (rating-2372) and FM Abu Sufian Shakil (rating-2418) lost to Chavez Ricardo Ernesto (rating-2226).

Bangladesh men's team is in the 55th position in the open section after the end of the 10th round games.

Bangladesh women's team beat IBCA by 3-1 points, WFM Samima Akter Liza (rating-2094) beat Stolarczyk Anna (rating-2001),

Nazrana Khan Eva (rating-1987) beat FM Debowska Teresa (rating- 1916) and Syeda Shabana Parveen Nipa (rating-2079) beat Fries Elisabeth (Rating-1738) and WIM Rani Hamid (Rating-2132) lost to

WIM Zsiltzova-Lisenko Lubov (rating-2265).

Bangladesh women's team is in the 64th position after the end of the 10th round games.

The 11th or last round games will start today (Tuesday) from 3:00 pm (BST). In the open section, Bangladesh men's team will play against Thailand and Bangladesh women's team against Luxembourg.

Trinidad & Tobago win West Indies one-day title

AP, Georgetown

Trinidad and Tobago won the WICB Cup on Sunday by defeating Barbados by seven wickets in the limited-overs cricket final.

In a disappointingly low-scoring match, Barbados won the toss and was all out for 142 in the 46th over, and Trinidad had no problems overtaking that total with 143-3 in just 27 overs at Guyana National Stadium.

Trinidad won its second championship in three years, and ninth overall. Barbados was seeking its first title since 2003.

Scores:

Trinidad and Tobago 143-3 off 27 overs (Daren Ganga 48 not out, Adrian Barath 31), def. Barbados 142 all out off 45.5 overs (Jonathan Carter 36, Dwayne Smith 29; Samuel Badree 3-14, Rayad Emrit 3-36, Sherwin Ganga 2-18), by 7 wickets.

Karwan Bazar Pragati Sangha played 1-1 draw with Kadamtola Sangsad

UNB, Dhaka

Karwan Bazar Pragati Sangha played to a 1-1 draw with Kadamtola Sangsad in the Metropolis Second Division Football League at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium at Kamalapur in the city on Monday.

Hamidur Rahman Mamun scored for Pragati Sangha in the 13th minute while Abdul Hamid of Kadamtola Sangsad netted the equalizer in the 79th minute.

In the day's other match, Basabo Tarun Sangha beat BG Press S&RC by a solitary goal scored by Mahbubul Hasan in the 12th minute.

After the day's match, Pragati Sangha secured 30 points from 15 matches to share the 2nd slot in the league table with Police AC and Motijheel T&T Club.

Uttar Baridhara Club tops the league table with 36 points from 14 matches to ensure their promotion to the Metropolis First Division Football League.