The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sylhet Division forces Dhaka Division to a draw

UNB, Dhaka

Despite two centuries by Javed Omar and Mahmudullah Riyad, hosts Dhaka Division were forced to a draw by Sylhet Division in the 7th round match of the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League on the 4th and last day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

Replying to Sylhet Division's first innings total of 363 runs, Dhaka Division resumed the first innings with 420 for 8 and were all out for 438 runs in 130 overs to take a 75-run first innings lead.

National opener cum Dhaka Division captain Javed Omar Belim, who resumed batting with 106 runs, remained not out with 112 runs playing 191 balls that featured 19 fours while another night watch batsman Emon Ahmed (5) scored 11 runs off 34 balls with two fours.

Taposh Ghosh and Sumon Saha, who equally shared four wickets on Wednesday, picked up one wicket apiece today to finish with 24-5-63-3 and 26-5-86-3, while Saikat Ali grabbed two wickets for 71 runs.

In reply, Sylhet Division opened the second innings in the morning and batted cautiously to score 153 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 77 overs at stumps on the final day, forcing the match to a draw.

Sylhet Division made a good start with 66 runs in the opening stand. Opener Imtiaz Hossain scored 47 runs off 43 balls with nine fours and a six, while another opener Saikat Ali contributed a patient 43 runs off 88 balls with five boundaries.

Besides, Mohammad Mithun (19), Rajin Saleh (18) and Rezaul Haque (10) were the other contributors for Sylhet.

Arafat Sunny claimed four vital Sylhet wickets of opener Imtiaz, Mithun, Kamrul and Ejaz for just 22 runs in his 19-over spell with 10 maidens while Emon Ahmed took one for 31 runs.

Brief score: Sylhet Division first innings- 363 for all in 142.5 overs, Rajin Saleh 94, Kamrul Islam 77, Rezaul Haque 73, Imtiaz Hossain 58, Arafat Sunny 5/73, Mohammad Azim 3/64.

2nd innings - 153 for 7 in 77 overs; Imtiaz Hossain 47, Saikat Ali 43, Mohammad Mithun 19, Rajin Saleh 18, Rezaul Haque 10, Arafat Sunny 4/22, Emon Ahmed 1/31.

Dhaka Division 1st innings - 438 all out in 130 overs (Overnight 420 for 8 in 125 overs); Javed Omar 112, Mahmudullah Riyad 103, Nadif Chowdhury 81, Marshal Ayub 45, extras 29, Taposh Ghosh 3/63, Sumon Saha 3/86, Saikat Ali 2/71

Rahamatganj upset Dhaka MSC

UNB, Dhaka

Giant killer Rahamatganj MFS again made a big upset in the Citycell 2nd B. League beating Dhaka Mohammedan SC by a solitary goal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on Thursday.

It was the 4th win for Rahamatganj MFS after a draw and three defeats, while Dhaka Mohammedan tasted their first defeat after an equal three wins and draws.

With this feat, Rahamatganj MFS improved their position with 13 points from eight matches, while Dhaka Mohammedan remained at 12 points from seven matches.

Earlier, in the inaugural match of the league, Rahamatganj also made an upset beating holders Dhaka Abahani by the same margin.

In the day's match, Ugandan striker Idris Kasirye scored the all- important goal for Rahamatganj MFS in the 26th minute with a header from inside the danger zone capitalizing on a Jahanagir Patwary left wing corner (1-0).

Dhaka Mohammedan striker Alamu Bukola Olalekin was unlucky. He missed two real scoring chances both in each halves of the match.

He got the first scoring chance in the 14th minute, but his powerful shot from the vantage position off Komal pass was fisted out brilliantly by Rahamatganj custodian Ali.

Mohammedan desperately needed a goal to level the margin as well as to save their prestige, but the Nigerian striker Bukola missed the scoring chance for the second time.

Referee Tayeb Hasan gave a spot kick in favor of Dhaka Mohammedan when Rahamatganj defender Ashraf Hossain fouled striker Mohammad Robin at danger zone in the 68th minute.

But, Bukola failed to capitalize the opportunity frustrating the Dhaka Mohammedan fans in the big bowl. His powerful spot kick sailed over the cross bar that gave an ease to the opponents.

Earlier, Rahamatganj MFS managed only a real scoring chance in the 23rd minute but Herok Joarder shot from the danger zone off Jahangir Patwary right wing minus was fisted superbly by Mohammedan custodian Aminul Haque.

Yellow cards: Francis, Ali, Hanif and Idris (Rahamatganj).

Rahamatganj MFS - Ali, Jahangir, Ashraf, Sheepon, Imrose, Felix, Kabir, Francis, Hanif (Zakir), Idris, and Herok.

Dhaka Mohammedan - Aminul, Nasir, Jewel, Rajoni, Mamun, Hazem (Ripon), Emmanuel (Enamul), Komal (Rony), Maruf, Bukola and Robin.

Today's match: Muktijoddha SKC vs Dhaka Abahani (BNS 4:30 pm).

Sehwag blasts England as India go 5-0 up

Reuters, Cuttack

Virender Sehwag smashed 91 to guide India to a six-wicket win over England with more than six overs to spare in the fifth one-dayer on Wednesday to give the hosts a 5-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Sehwag missed out on his 10th one-day hundred but added 136 with fellow opener Sachin Tendulkar (50) as India chased down England's 270 for four.

Skipper Kevin Pietersen compiled 111 not out, his seventh one-day hundred, to steer England to a solid total after being asked to bat first.

England's bowlers removed Tendulkar, in-form Yuvraj Singh (6) and Sehwag in the space of 20 runs, the last two off successive deliveries, before the hosts recovered to reach 273 for four in 43.4 overs.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit 50 and Suresh Raina was 53 not out, adding 94 for the fourth wicket, to ensure the comfortable win.

Pietersen shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 112 with Owais Shah (66 not out) after adding 89 for the third with Paul Collingwood (40) as he led England's bid to stem the slide.

"We've been outplayed again by Viru," Pietersen said. "Viru and Sachin at the top of the order played great knocks.

"I said we wanted to keep the series competitive. "It was today, (but) we just have to keep it as competitive as possible."

Sehwag was named man of the match for the second game in a row.

EXPLOSIVE SEHWAG

The explosive Sehwag struck his fourth fifty of the series in a 73-ball effort, scoring 15 fours and a six while evening dew made it difficult for the England bowlers to grip the ball in the second half of the day-night game.

"I'm in good form, so wanted to make the most of it," Sehwag said. "I was unlucky I couldn't get 100, but I'm happy. I knew the bowling attack t, I was ready."

Sehwag revealed his awesome form again to make amends for Tendulkar, who initially struggled to find his timing.

Sehwag smashed off-spinner Graeme Swann for three fours and a six off consecutive deliveries to take 21 runs off his first over before reaching his 33rd fifty.

Tendulkar scored his 90th one-day fifty before fast bowler Steve Harmison bowled him as he shaped for a big heave against a pitched-up delivery which nipped back.

England then struck twice in successive deliveries.

Seamer Ravi Bopara had Yuvraj, who hit hundreds in the first two games, caught and bowled for six runs. Paceman Stuart Broad then trapped Sehwag leg before off the first delivery of the next over.

Television replays suggested it would have missed leg stump.

Dhoni and Raina rotated the strike initially before taking control.

Broad walked off the field with an apparent foot injury after attempting to stop a Dhoni shot on the follow through.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan removed openers Alastair Cook (11), who replaced Ian Bell at the top of the order, as well as Ravi Bopara (24) in the England innings.

Pietersen and Shah rallied England after Collingwood and all rounder Andrew Flintoff (0) fell in successive overs in the space of one run, reducing the total to 158 for four.

Pietersen hit 10 fours from 128 balls, lofting Harbhajan Singh over long-on for six to reach 3,000 one-day international runs before going on to complete his hundred.

Shah followed his 48-ball 72 in the previous game with a fluent 57-ball effort studded with nine fours.

The sixth one-dayer will be played in Guwahati on Saturday.

UCB-Dhaka Sports Carnival begins today

Sports Reporter

The three-day long UCB-Dhaka Sports Carnival begins today at the different venues across the city. Dhaka Club Limited will host the sports carnival while Kurmitola Golf Club, Cadet College Club, Gulshan Club and Uttara Club will be the co-hosts of the sports

competitions. United Commercial Bank is the title sponsor of the sports events.

The events of the sports carnivals are: Bridge, Golf, Cricket (six-a-side), Tennis, Snooker, Squadh and Swimming.

The bridge competition and the snooker meet will be held at the Dhaka

Club while the cricket tournament will be taken place at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. The golf competition will be held at the Kurmitola Golf Club, the tennis tournament will be held at the Gulshan Club. The squash tournament will be held at the Cadet College Club while the swimming competition will be taken place at the Uttara Club.

A total of 14 clubs from Bangladesh will take part in the three-day long sports carnival. They are : Dhaka Club, Gulshan Club, Uttara Club, Cadet College Club, Gulshan Youth Club, Kurmitola Golf Club, RAOWA Club, Officers Club, Khulna Club, Mainamoti Golf & County Club, Vatiary Golf Club, Balisera Valley Club, Comilla Club and Chittagong Club.

A number of eight clubs from India will participate in the sports carnival. They are : International Club, Calcutta Club, Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Jaipur Club, CC&FC, Saturday Club, Bhubaneswar Club and Dalhousie Institute.

A total of 350 participants including 80 participants from India will compete in the sports carnival.

To mark the ensuing sports competitions a press briefing was held at the Dhaka Club on Thursday.

President of the Dhaka Club Limited Sadat Hossain Selim, President of the Uttara Club Zafar Akram, President of the Cadet College Club Shafiqur Rahman Munna, President of the Calcutta Club Shambhu Mukharjee, Managing Director of the United Commercial Bank Limited Shahjahan Bhuiyan were present, among others.

Chairman of National Sports Council and Chief of the Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed, ndc, psc will be the chief guest on the concluding day (November 30). The grand finale and prize giving ceremony will be held on the concluding day at the Dhaka Club.

Bangladesh earn one more bronze in South Asian Shooting

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh earned one more bronze medal in their lone event on the 6th day of the 4th South Asian Shooting Championship held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Thursday.

Bangladesh men's team comprising Shahriar Towfique Khan (score 1123), Razman Ali (1112) and Saiful Alam Rinki (1110) earned the team event's bronze medal in the 50-meter three position shooting.

In the shoot-off, Shahriar Towfique Khan finished 7th scoring 1219.

Bangladesh shooting team is due to return home on Sunday

Barisal moves to semis with 5-wicket win over Chandpur

UNB, Dhaka

Barisal DSA moved into the semi-finals of the National (Inter-District) Cricket Championship with a five-wicket win over Chandpur DSA in the first quarterfinal at the Shams-ul-Huda Stadium in Jessore on Thursday.

Sent into bat first, Chandpur DSA were bundled out for 138 runs in 46 overs with lower order Solaiman Khan scoring team highest 40 runs off 65 balls that featured four fours and two sixes.

In reply, Barisal DSA easily reached their target of 139 runs in 29.5 overs for the loss of five wickets with opener Fazle Rabbi hammering 52 runs off 44 balls that included four fours and four sixes.

Masud Hossain grabbed five Chandpur wickets for 35 runs and was adjudged man of the match.

Brief score: Chandpur DSA - 138 all out in 46 overs; Solaiman Khan 40, Manik Khan 24, Amith Saha 23, Habibur Rahman 18, Jahan e-Alam 10, extras 13, Maud Hossain 5/35, Jayedi Khan 2/20 and Manik 2/29.

Barsial DSA - 139 for 5 in 29.5 overs; Fazle Rabbi 52, Mahin not out 35, Sajib 14, extras 15, Habibur Rahman 2/13.

Div II Football: T&T on the 2nd spot

Sports Reporter

T&T Club of Motijheel outclassed Little Friends Club by 4-0 goals in the day's third match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Thursday.

Minar of T&T Club scored two goals while his teammates Mintoo, Babu netted one each.

T&T Club are now on the second spot with 36 points from 16 matches while Little Friends Club remained with 20 points from as many matches.

In the day's first match, BG Press S&RC beat Karwan Bazar Progoti Sangha by a solitary goal at the same venue.

Karim scored the match-winning goal for BG Press S&RC.

Karwan Bazar gained 30 points from 16 matches while BG Press earned 19 points from as many outings.

In the day's second match, Police AC edged past Matuail Udayan Sangsad 1-0 at the same venue.

Police gained 33 points from 16 matches while Matuail remained with 17 points from as many outings.

Middlesex cancel flight to India after attacks in Mumbai

Reuters, London

English county side Middlesex have cancelled their flight to India on Thursday for the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League after a series of attacks in the financial capital Mumbai.

Local television said gunmen had killed at least 80 people and troops had begun moving into one of two five-star hotels on Thursday where Western hostages were being held.

Middlesex captain Shaun Udal told Sky Sports News on Wednesday the team would not be travelling as planned on Thursday.

"All we know is our flight has been cancelled in the morning," Udal said.

The England national team are currently playing a one-day series in India.

India v England one-day series called off

Reuters, Mumbai

The last two matches of the India v England one-day series have been called off because of security fears following Wednesday's militant attacks in Mumbai, an Indian board spokesman said on Thursday.

"The final two one-day internationals are off," Devendra Prabhudesai said.

The future of next month's two-test series is yet to be decided.

"We expect they will come to play the test series," Indian board secretary N. Srinivasan told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

An England Cricket Board (ECB) statement said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had agreed to its request to postpone the remaining two one-dayers.

The fifth match was due to be played in Guwahati on Saturday and the final game on Dec 2. The tourists were trailing 5-0.

The England team will not travel to Guwahati on Thursday as scheduled and will remain in Bhubaneswar overnight pending further discussions with the BCCI.

Pakistan willing to send team to Twenty20 event in India

Reuters, Karachi

Pakistan cricket authorities are willing to send their top Twenty20 team to India to participate in the Champions League, despite a wave of terror attacks in Mumbai that have left more than 100 dead.

The tournament features eight sides from five countries and is scheduled to start in Mumbai on Dec 3 with at least six of the teams booked to stay at the luxurious Hotel Taj, a focal point of the gun and grenade attacks that started on Tuesday night.

Pakistan will be represented in the tournament by the Sialkot Stallions, led by national captain Shoaib Malik.

"We have asked the Indian board to keep us up to date with the situation and the status of the Champions League, but we have told them we are willing to send the Sialkot team," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Saleem Altaf told Reuters.

"What has happened is a great tragedy but we strongly believe you can't stop sporting activities because of these terrorist strikes," he added.

India's scheduled tour of Pakistan in early 2009 is currently awaiting approval from the Indian government before the tourists can confirm their participation in a series put in doubt by security concerns.

English champions Middlesex, two Australian sides and two from South Africa have delayed decisions over their participation in the Champions League.