The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sylhet declare 1st innings at 366/9 against Barisal

UNB, Dhaka

Hosts Sylhet Division declared the first innings at 366 for 9 in 126.4 overs against league leaders Barisal Division on the second day of the 8th round match of the four-day Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League at the Sylhet Stadium on Tuesday.

Resuming batting with 276 for 6 that included 111 runs by opener Saikat Ali, Sylhet Division added another 90 runs for the loss of three wickets in 32.4 overs before they declared the first innings.

Middle order batsman Golam Rahman, who was batting with 70 runs, made the 2nd ton of the innings scoring team highest 116 runs off 280 balls with 18 fours and a six, while lower order Taposh Ghosh made another useful 38 runs that included six boundaries.

Nasir Hossain claimed all the three wickets of the day conceding 51 runs in his 19.4 overs spell, apart from Tariqul Islam's four-wicket haul on Monday.

In reply, Sylhet Division made a good start scoring 129 for 2 in 54.1 overs at stumps on the 2nd day, on Tuesday.

Opener Nasiruddin and skipper Imran Ahmed remained unbeaten on 54 and 3 runs respectively after the departure of one down Hannan Sarker (50) and opener Rony Talukder (8).

Taposh Ghosh and Shuvashish Roy took one wicket each giving away 16 and 31 runs respectively.

Brief score: Sylhet Division first innings - 366 for 9 (declared) in 126.4 overs (overnight 279 for 6 in 94 overs); Golam Rahman 116, Saikat Ali 111, Taposh Ghosh 38, Mohammad Mithun 24, Kamrul Islam 18, extras 31, Tariqul Islam 4/78, Nasir Hossain 3/51.

Barisal Division first innings - 129 for 2 in 54.1 overs; Nasiruddin batting 54, Hannan Sarker 50, Rony Talukder 8, Imran Ahmed batting 3, extras 14, Taposh Ghosh 1/16 and Shuvashish Roy 1/31.

In another match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka Division trailed by 129 runs against Rajshahi Division on the 2nd day of the four-day affairs on Tuesday.

Replying to Dhaka Division's poor first innings total of 142 runs,

Rajshahi Division resumed the first innings with overnight 91 for 2 and eventually scored 283 for all in 107.5 overs to take a 141-run first innings lead.

Nicodemus scores hattrick: Arambagh KS crushes Khulna Abahani

UNB, Dhaka

Riding on foreign striker Nicodemus Anunda Gichana's hattrick, Arambagh KS earned a massive 5-0 goals win over Khulna Abahani in the lone match of the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Tuesday.

This was the second win for Arambagh KS after three draws and four defeats, while bottom ranked Khulna Abahani conceded eight defeats and managed only one win.

With the day's result, Arambagh KS secured nine points, while Khulna Abahani remained at three points, both playing nine matches.

In the day's match, Nicodemus made the hattrick scoring three goals, all in the first half, while Moudud Ahmed and Lutfar Rahman Nayan netted one goal each in the second half.

Nicodemus put Arambagh ahead converting a spot kick in the very 10th minute of the match (1-0), scored again in the 43rd minute (2-0) and completed the hattrick with his third goal in the 45th minute (3-0).

After the lemon break, Moudud scored in the 53rd minute (4-0), while Nayan scored in the 54th minute to complete the winners' tally (5-0).

Referee - Mizanur Rahman

Today's match: Muktijoddha SKC vs Farashganj SC (BNS, 4:30 pm).

Ronaldo wins European footballer of the year award

AFP, Paris

Manchester United winger C Ronaldo won the European Footballer of the Year Award here on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Portuguese star is the first from his country to win the coveted 'Ballon D'Or' award which is given by'France Football' since Luis Figo in 2000.

His award - which he has widely spoken about having said in the last week that not only is he the best footballer in the world but also the second and third best - comes on the back of exceptional performances for his club side last season.

He scored a remarkable 42 times in 49 matches as United secured a memorable league and European Cup double.

However, Spaniard Fernando Torres can feel hard done by as he scored a lot of great goals for Liverpool in the Premiership and the only goal in the Euro 2008 final against Germany.

National Cricket Championship Rangpur in final

Sports Reporter

Rangpur District team moved into the final of the National Cricket Championship when they eliminated Dinajpur District team by eight wickets in the second semi-final at the Jessore Shamsul Huda Stadium on Tuesday.

Earlier, Khulna District team confirmed their final berth on December 1.

Tomorrow Rangpur District team will take on Khulna District team in the final at the same venue.

Electing to bat first, Dinajpur District team scored 202 off 49.4 overs.

In reply, Rangpur District team sailed home in 33.2 overs making 206 for the loss of two wickets.

Openers Salahuddin and Ashraful Islam of Rangpur made a solid start as they put on together 80 runs in the opening stand.

Ashraful Islam remained undefeated with 89 playing 90 deliveries. He sent the ball 11 times through the ropes and three times over the fence. Ashraful Islam was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Rangpur District lost their two wickets for 104 runs. Ashraful Islam and Alauddin Babu added 102 runs in the unbroken third wicket partnership.

Alauddin Babu hit an unbeaten 50 using 49 balls. He cracked six fours.

Earlier, opener Salauddin deprived from a half century for just two runs.

He hit a quickfire 48 off 39 balls amid five fours and two sixes.

Minhaz Reza and Faysal Bin Mostak of Dinajpur took one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Faysal Bin Mostak and Bappy Das added 53 and 43 runs respectively to the Dinajpur total.

Abdur Rahman of Rangpur harpooned three wickets in lieu of 16 runs while Monirul Islam and Alauddin Babu bagged a couple of wickets each instead of 44 and 45 runs respectively.

Besides, Sahib Sarkar and Ashraful Islam took one wicket each for 19 and 39 runs respectively.

Bangladesh Cricket team returns home

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team returned home yesterday from South Africa after a month-long tour.

Bangladesh lost to south Africa by 12 runs in the lone Twenty20 match on November 5.

The Proteas clinched the ODI series 2-0 as the Proteas defeated the Tigers by 61 runs in the first ODI on November 7 and then, South Africa outplayed Bangladesh by 128 runs in the second ODI on November 9.

The third and last ODI between South Africa and Bangladesh was washed out by rain on November 12.

South Africa whitewashed Bangladesh in the two-match Test series as the Proteas overpowered the Tigers by an innings and 129 runs in the first Test match on Novrmber 22. Later, Bangladesh conceded an innings and 48-run defeat by South Africa in the second Test on November 28.

Bangladesh team failed to show satisfactory performance in ODI series and also failed to show Test temperament during their outgoing South Africa tour.

DMP champions in police hockey

BSS, Dhaka

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) team emerged champions in Bangladesh Police Hockey Championship when they defeated Armed Police Battalion team (APBN) team 3-1 in the final match held at Moulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday.

Rana Das scored two goals for the winners and later won the best player award.

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad witnessed the final as the chief guest and gave away prizes among the winners.

Senior police officials were present during the closing function.