The New Nation - Internet Edition

National Cricket League: Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi win

Sports Reporter

Sylhet Division, Khulna Division and Rajshahi Division got wins in their respective one-dayer matches of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 10th National Cricket League at the different venues on Sunday.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Sylhet Division registered four-wicket victory over Barisal Division.

Batting first, Barisal Division made 256 for the loss of six wickets off 46 overs (four overs were curtailed due to foggy weather).

In reply, Sylhet Division overhauled the target scoring 257 for the loss of six wickets when they had 10 balls to spare.

Hannan Sarkar of Barisal notched up a splendid 116 off 112 balls amid 12 fours and was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Raysul Islam was the other notable batsman for Barisal who hit 45 off 62 including five fours.

Rashedur Rahman of Sylhet bagged a couple of wickets giving away 57 runs.

Later, Md Mithun, the wicketkeeper-batsman of Sylhet knocked a fine 57 off 67 runs.

Besides, Saikat Ali, Imtiaj Hossain, Md Sharifullah, Golam Rahman and Kamrul Islam contributed 39, 38, 36, 33, 29 (not out) to the Sylhet total.

Nasir Hossain and Monwar Hossain of Barisal got two wickets each conceding 34 and 51 runs respectively.

At the BKSP Ground, Khulna Division earned a thrilling one-wicket win over Chittagong Division.

Chasing Chittagong's 180 for the loss of seven wickets off 38 overs (the match had a delay start due to inclement weather and the game was settled a 38-over-a-side match), Khulna

reached the winning spot making 181 for the loss of nine wickets remaining just three deliveries.

Nafis Iqbal of Chittagong hit a captain's knock of 74 facing 110 balls. He sent the ball seven times over the ropes and one time over the fence.

Nazmus Sadat of Khulna bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 33 runs.

Later, Rabiul Islam, Tushar Imran, Amit Majumder added 49, 45, 45 runs respectively to the Khulna total.

Rezaul Karim of Chittagong grabbed four wickets instead of 37 runs while Tareq Aziz claimed three wickets for 36 runs.

At the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Rajshahi Division posted a narrow two-wicket win over Dhaka Division.

Sent into bat first, Dhaka scored 143 for the loss of nine wickets in 45 overs.

In reply, Rajshahi sailed home in 41.3 overs making 145 for the loss of eight wickets.

Arafat Salauddin of Dhaka remained undefeated with 51 off 102 balls.

Delwar Hossain and Safaq Al Zabir of Rajshahi harpooned three wickets each for four and 20 runs respectively.

Later, Ashraful Haque of Dhaka got three wickets in the space of 18 runs while Md Azim took two for 42 runs.

Zimbabwe cricket team arrives in capital

UNB, Dhaka

A 15-member Zimbabwe National Cricket team, led by 23-year-old all-rounder Prosper Utseya, arrived here on Sunday morning by an Emirates flight.

During their three-week tour to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe will play in the GrameenPhone Tri-nation Cup involving hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dhaka.

In the Tri-nation Cup, Zimbabwe will play hosts Bangladesh on January 10 and will meet Sri Lanka on January 12, both at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka on Jan 12 while the final match will be held on January 16 at the same venue.

After the tri-nation cup, visiting Zimbabwe will also play a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh on January 19, 21 and 23, all at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, before leaving the city on January 24.

The Zimbabweans will start their Bangladesh campaign with a three-day warm-up match against GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team on January 6 at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.

The Zimbabwe team already left the capital this (Sunday) afternoon for Bogra where they will have a practice session tomorrow (Monday).

Zimbabwe team: Prosper Utseya (captain), Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Keith Dabengwa, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Forster Mutizwa, Ray Price, Edward Rainsford, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.

GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team named for 3-day match against Zimbabwe

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board Sunday announced a 14-member GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team to play a three-day warm-up match against Zimbabwe on January 6-8 at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.

Meanwhile, a 16-member Zimbabwe national cricket team, led by all-rounder Prosper Utseya, arrived in the capital Sunday morning to play the GrameenPhone Tri-nation Cup in Dhaka involving hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Zimbabwean team left the capital on Sunday afternoon for Bogra after taking rest for a while.

After the tri-nation cup, visiting Zimbabwe will also play a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

GP-BCB Academy team : Jahurul Islam, Md. Mithun (Wicketkeeper), Nasiruddin Faruque, Naeem Islam (Captain), Marshall Ayub (Vice Captain), Kamrul Islam Emon, Saqlain Sajib, Rabiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Sajedul Islam, Raihanuddin Arafat, Mahmudul Hasan, Ashraful Aziz and Nazmul Hossain.

Team Management - Khaled Mahmud (Operations Manager), Ruwan Kalpage (Head Coach), Bayjedul Islam (Physio), Tushar Kanti Howlader (Fitness Trainer) and Mohammad Salauddin (Computer Analyst).

Clarke century boosts Australia

BBC Online

Australia gave themselves a good chance of earning a consolation victory in the final Test against South Africa on the back of Michael Clarke's fine 138.

The Aussie vice-captain, dropped twice on the first day, converted an unbeaten 73 into his 10th first-class century.

And with further runs from Mitchell Johnson (64) and Nathan Hauritz (41), the Australians totalled a solid 445.

South Africa replied with 125-1, Graeme Smith retiring with a broken hand that will keep him out for six weeks.

The tourists, having won the first two matches to earn their first Test series victory in Australia, started the day in fine shape to force a whitewash.

But having bowled well on Saturday to restrict the hosts to 267-6, they were not counting on a 142-run stand between Clarke and Johnson.

That was finally ended after lunch when JP Duminy's occasional spin forced the downfall of Clarke, the right-hander driving a catch back to the bowler off a full toss.

Johnson soon followed, edging Dale Steyn (3-95) to slip, but there was a further sting in the tail, with Hauritz and Peter Siddle (23) adding 59 for the ninth wicket.

Smith breaks his hand

BBC Online

South Africa captain Graeme Smith broke his left hand on day two of the Sydney Test against Australia and is unlikely to bat in the second innings.

Smith was surprised by a Mitchell Johnson delivery and was struck on the knuckle on his little finger.

He retired hurt on 30 and went for x-rays that showed the break in the fifth metacarpal. He is out for six weeks.

BFF honours '71 football heroes

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Bangladesh Football Federation on Sunday accorded a grand reception to the football heroes of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team, which drew the world's attention to the suffering of war-torn Bangladesh during its Liberation War in 1971.

A stone, engraved with 36 names of the '71 soccer team, was also unveiled by national sports council chairman and army chief General Moeen U Ahmed, at the BFF premises in Arambagh.

The country's football governing body organised the reception in association with Citycell, to honour the members of the team who played exhibition matches in India to raise public awareness of the country's Liberation War.

A long-time dispute had been created over the names of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team, which the country's football federation finally laid to rest with the inclusion of four more names - two footballers, the manager and the coach.

Of the 36-member list, four - Ali Iman, Mahmudur Rashid, Moniruzzaman Peyara and Sheikh Mansur Ali Lalu and coach Noni Basak - have died in the intervening years.

The others are: Tanvir Mazharul Islam Tanna (manager), M Jakaria Pintu (captain), Protap Shankar Hajra (vice captain), M Kaikobad, Amolesh Sen, M Ainul Haq, Sheikh Ashraf Ali, Bimol Kor, M Shahjahan Alam, Kazi Salahuddin, M Enayetur Rahman Khan, KN Nowsheruzzaman, Suvash Chandra Saha, Fazle Sadain Khokon, Abdul Hakim, M Taslim Uddin Sheikh, Aminul Islam Suruz, Abdul Momin Joarder, Abdul Sattar, Pran Gobinda Kundu, M Mojibar Rahman, Retired major general Khandoker M Nurunnabi, Lutfar Rahman, Anirudha Chattergee. Sanjit Kumar De, Saidur Rahman Patel, Dewan M Siraj Uddin Siru, Nihar Kanti Das, M Mozammel Haque, Biren Das Biru and Abdul Khaled.

Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka scoreboard

Scoreboard at stumps Sunday on the second day of the second test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium:

Sri Lanka, 1st Innings:

(Overnight 371 for six)

Malinda Warnapura lbw b Ashraful 63

Prasanna Jayawardene lbw b Mortaza 0

Kumar Sangakkara b Mortaza 5

Mahela Jayawardene c Rahim b Al Hasan 11

Thilan Samaraweera b S. Hossain 19

Tillakaratne Dilshan b Enamul Haque 162

Chamara Kapugedara lbw b Al Hasan 96

Chaminda Vaas lbw b Mortaza 3

Muttiah Muralitharan lbw b Al Hasan 0

Ajantha Mendis not out 6

Dilhara Ferdando lbw b Al Hasan 0

Extras: (4b, 8lb, 1w, 6nb) 19

TOTAL: (All out) 384

Overs: 94. Batting time: 399 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-7, 3-39, 4-75, 5-194, 6-367, 7-376,

8-376, 9-384, 10-384.

Bowling: Mashrafee bin Mortaza 22-7-58-3 (2nb), Shahadat Hossain 14-0-80-1 (1w), Shakib Al Hasan 30-6-109-4 (1nb), Enamul Haque 19-3-70-1 (3nb), Mehrab Hossain 7-1-36-0, Mohammad Ashraful 2-0-19-1.

Bangladesh, 1st Innings

Tamim Iqbal c P. Jayawardene b Vaas 0

Imrul Kayes lbw b Vaas 6

Junaid Siddique b Fernando 28

Raqibul Hasan lbw b Mendis 0

Mohammad Ashraful c P. Jayawardene

b Muralitharan 45

Mehrab Hossain lbw b Mendis 18

Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Mendis 0

Mushfiqur Rahim st P. Jayawardene b Mendis 21

Mashrafe bin Mortaza c Dilshan b Muralitharan 63

Enamul Haque c P. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 4

Shahadat Hossain not out 5

Extras: (5b, 5lb, 8nb) 18

TOTAL: (All out) 208

Overs: 76.2. Batting time: 304 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-26, 3-33, 4-65, 5-90, 6-90, 7-122, 8-136,9-145, 10-208.

Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 10-5-21-2, Dilhara Fernando 18-4-44-1 (4nb), Ajantha Mendis 28-5-71-4 (4nb) and Muttiah Muralitharan 20.2-6-62-3.

Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings:

Malinda Warnapura not out 7

Prasanna Jayawardene not out 6

Extras: 0

TOTAL: (for no wicket) 13

Overs: 5. Batting time: 25 minutes.

To bat: Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera,Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedara, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Ferdando.

Bowling: Mashrafee bin Mortaza 2-1-5-0, Shahadat Hossain 1-0-4-0, Shakib Al Hasan 1-0-1-0 and Enamul Haque 1-0-3-0.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor, West Indies, and Nigel Llong, England

TV Umpire: Enamul Haq, Bangladesh. Match Referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.

Toss: Won by Sri Lanka.

Series: Sri Lanka leads 1-0.