The New Nation - Internet Edition

New Zealand beat Windies to take rain-hit series

Reuters, Wellington

New Zealand beat West Indies by nine runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method in the rain-disrupted fifth one-day international at Mclean Park in Napier on Tuesday to win the series 2-1.

Chasing 294 for victory after Chris Gayle's 135 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 94 had lifted the visitors to 293 for nine, New Zealand were 211 for five after 35 overs when players left the field in heavy rain.

Ross Taylor was 48 not out, while Grant Elliott was on 14 when umpires ended the match.

The series was badly affected by wet weather, with two matches abandoned and West Indies winning the rain-shortened second match by two wickets.

New Zealand had been cruising to victory at 175 for three in the 29th over before losing two wickets off successive deliveries from Daren Powell.

The West Indies fast bowler, who conceded 23 runs from his first over and was involved in heated exchanges with New Zealand openers Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum, caught and bowled Daniel Flynn (21) off a mistimed hook then trapped Neil Broom in front for a duck.

The double strike left New Zealand behind the required asking rate as dark rain clouds rolled towards the ground.

Taylor, who scored 75 in the fourth match in Auckland, then combined with Elliott to see New Zealand back above the required rate and ensure the earlier work of Ryder (21), McCullum (41) and Martin Guptill (43) was not wasted.

New Zealand needed to be above 202 for five at the end of the 35th over under the Duckworth/Lewis method. Powell finished with three for 66 from 10 overs.

Earlier, Gayle smashed his 19th century in one-day internationals and combined for a 170-run partnership with Chanderpaul, to set a tough target for the hosts.

The efforts of the pair, who have virtually carried their team's batting fortunes on their five-week tour of New Zealand, however, were undone with little support from their team mates.

Kieron Pollard provided a brief eight-ball cameo of 19, which included two sixes and a four, while Ramnaresh Sarwan scored 22. No other player made double figures.

The visitors had looked on course to post a total in excess of 300 on a superb batting wicket, but the tail opted to slog rather than accumulate runs and were unable to get hold of some tight bowling at the death.

Dhaka Mohammedan reach 2nd slot beating Brothers Union 3-1

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Mohammedan joined the title race reaching the second slot as they beat Brothers Union Club by 3-1 goals in the lone second phase match of the Citycell B. League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Tuesday.

With the day's result, Dhaka Mohammedan secured 28 points from 13 matches while Brothers Union Club remained at 26 points from 14 matches. Holders Dhaka Abahani dominates the league table with 32 points, also playing 14 matches.

In the first phase, Dhaka Mohammedan and Brothers Union played to a 1-1 draw.

In the day's match, striker Nasir Hossain, Nigerian recruit Alamu Bukola Olaleken and striker Mohammad Robin scored one goal each for Dhaka Mohammedan, all in the first half. Zahid Hossain netted the lone goal for Brothers Union Club.

Nasir put Dhaka Mohammedan ahead in the 24th minute with a well-judged box shot after dodging past an opponent defender following a through pass from Hazem Khaled Mahmood (1-0).

Bukola doubled the margin in the 32nd minute with a powerful shot from inside the danger zone taking a pass from skipper Arman Aziz (2-0).

Robin completed the winners' tally in the 45th minute with an angular box shot giving no chance to Brothers custodian Ziaur Rahman, after Bukola did the groundwork at the right wing (3-0).

Zahid Hossain pulled one back for Brothers Union from a penalty in the 90th minute. Referee Abdul Hannan Miron awarded the spot kick to Brothers Union when Nasir Hossain fouled onrushing Motiur Munna at the danger zone (3-1).

Dhaka Mohammedan dominated the entire proceedings to notch the deserving victory, while the all-orange Gopibagh outfit was totally off-color in the day's match.

Today's match - Arambagh KS vs Sheikh Russell KC (BNS; 4 pm).

Barisal take solo lead beating Khulna

Sports Reporter

Barisal Division took the top spot of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea 10th National Cricket League when they defeated Khulna Division by seven wickets in their one-dayer match at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium on Tuesday.

Barisal led the points table securing 10 points from seven matches while Khulna remained with six points from as many matches.

Chasing Khulna's total of 147 for the loss of nine wickets in the stipulated 40 overs (10 overs were curtailed due to foggy weather), Barisal sailed home in 36.5 overs scoring 150 for the loss of three wickets.

Nasir Hossain of Barisal remained undefeated with 59 off 87 balls. He sent the ball six times through the ropes and one time over the fence while Saheen Hossain hit an unbeaten 39.

Dollar Mahmud of Khulna got two wickets conceding 31 runs.

Earlier, Taibur Rahman of Khulna notched up an unbeaten 54 off 89 balls amid seven boundaries.

Arafat Salahuddin of Barisal grabbed three wickets giving away 12 runs while Tariqul Islam and Sajedul Islam chipped in with two wickets each at the cost of 13 and 37 runs respectively.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Chittagong Division registered a three-wicket win over Rajshahi Division on the same day.

Chittagong and Rajshahi collected eight points each playing their respective seven matches.

Batting first Rajshahi scored 140 off 38.5 overs.

In reply, Chittagong reached the winning target making 141 for the loss of seven wickets in 43 overs.

Tariq Ahmed, Mahmudul Hasan, Arman Hossain contributed 39, 35 (not out) and 30 runs to the Chittagong total.

Safaq Al Zabir and Saqlain Sajib of Rajshahi captured three wickets each in the space of 20 and 26 runs respectively.

Earlier, Sabbir and Sohrawardy Shuvo added 31 and 30 runs respectively to the Rajshahi total.

Medium pacer Tareq Aziz of Chittagong claimed four wickets instead of 32 runs while Rezaul Karim and Moktar Ali bagged a pair of wickets each for nine and 25 runs respectively.

At the BKSP Ground, Dhaka Division posted an easy six-wicket victory over Sylhet Division on the same day.

Sylhet gained six points from seven matches while Dhaka earned four points from as many outings.

Electing to field first, Dhaka restricted Sylhet to 173 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 28 overs (match was fixed 28-over-a-side due to inclement weather), Dhaka reached the winning spot making 174 for the loss of four wickets when they had just four balls to spare.

Nadif Chowdhury of Dhaka hit acaptain's knock of 59 off 53 balls including three sixers and two fours.

Besides, Nazmul Hossain and Javed Omar contributed 48 and 32 (not out) to the Dhaka total.

Monir Hossain and Saikat Ali of Sylhet took two wickets each conceding 29 and 37 runs respectively.

Earlier, Md Mithun of Sylhet made his team's highest of 64. He hit seven fours and two sixes.

Marshal Ayub and Arafat Sunny of Dhaka harpooned a couple of wickets each for 27 and 41 runs respectively.

Hayden retires from cricket

BBC Online, Brisbane

Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden has announced his retirement from cricket after a 17-year first-class career and 103 Test matches.

Hayden revealed his decision at his home ground, the Gabba, in Brisbane.

The 37-year-old will take a lap of honour in front of his home crowd during Tuesday evening's Twenty20 match between Australia and South Africa.

"I have loved so much playing cricket, and I count it as such an honour to have represented my country," he said.

The powerful left-hander scored 8,625 runs at an average of 50.73 during his Test career but averaged less than 20 in Australia's recent 2-1 Test series loss to South Africa, their first home series defeat in 16 years.

He was dropped for the current Twenty20 games and one-dayers against the Proteas but selectors said they would still consider the country's most successful opening batsman for upcoming Test tours to South Africa and the Ashes series in England.

An emotional Hayden, who is sixth on the all-time list of Test century-makers with 30 hundreds, added: "I know that now is the time to move on.

"I've lived the dream of every kid who has ever picked up a bat and ball and wanted to wear the baggy green (Australian test cap).

"I am retiring from cricket, not from life, there is still so much that I want to achieve and contribute to the community." Twice a World Cup winner with Australia, Hayden belted 10 centuries and 36 half-centuries in 161 one-day internationals.

He averaged 43.8 in the format, with a top score of 181 not out, and also played in two World Cup-winning squads.

He was the International Cricket Council's one-day international player of the year in 2007 and the Australian ODI player of the year in 2008.

2nd women cricket league inaugurated in Chittagong

BSS, Chittagong

The 2nd Women's National Cricket League began here on Tuesday.

City mayor Alhaj A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury formally inaugurated the event at 'Birshresto Shahid Ruhul Amin' Stadium at 9 a.m.

A total of six divisional women's cricket teams are participating the tournament.

The team of Chittagong division faced the Rajshahi division in the first day. Hossain Jamil, divisional

commissioner of Chittagong attended the function as special guest while former President of Chittagong Press Club Ali Abbas, Ward Commissioner M A Naser, Chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) women's wing Abdullah Al Fuad Redwan, BCB directors- Murad Hasan, Shahidul Islam, Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir and member of Bangladesh Olympic Association Lily Aziz were, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Rajshahi division beat the Chittagong division by 152 runs.

The tournament will conclude on January 20 next.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA World Player award

Reuters, Zurich

Manchester United and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year at a ceremony on Monday.

Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi was second, with Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres third.

Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez, also of Barcelona, and AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka completed the top five.

Ronaldo won the honour for the first time after helping United win the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup.