Brave Bangladesh lost 1st test against SriLanka by 107 runs

Shakib Al Hasan holds the Man-of-the-Match award , Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Dhaka, 5th day, December 31, 2008

5th Day

Sri Lanka 293 (Samaraweera 90, Vandort 44, Shakib 5-70) and 405 for 6 dec (Mahela Jayawardene 166, Sangakkara 67) beat Bangladesh 178 (Kayes 33, Muralitharan 6-49) and 413 (Ashraful 101, Shakib 96, Muralitharan 4-141) by 107 runs
Bangladesh made a fight of it but Sri Lanka ultimately won the first cricket Test on Wednesday, denying a spirited effort by the host side.Chasing 521 for victory, Bangladesh looked like it had a chance to pull off an extraordinary victory when it moved to 403-6, but lost its last four wickets for just 10 runs, giving Sri Lanka a 107-run win.Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful recorded his fifth Test century and Shakib Al Hasan made 96 to give Bangladesh an outside chance at a rare Test win, while Muttiah Muralitharan took 4-141 to finish with 10 wickets for the match.Resuming at 254-5, Bangladesh's run chase suffered a jolt when Ashraful was trapped lbw by Chaminda Vaas in the day's first session.But Shakib Al Hasan took over the chief responsibility from the captain and shared a 111-run stand for the seventh wicket with wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.Hasan was bowled by Dammika Prasad just four runs of a century, while Rahim (61) was caught by Tilakaratne Dilshan off Muralitharan, with the final two wickets then falling quickly.Ashraful scored his fourth 100 against Sri Lanka since becoming the youngest Test century-scorer at Colombo on his international debut in 2001 at age 17. His innings included 16 boundaries.
Jayawardene praises Bangladesh fight
CricInfo.com, UK
Sri Lanka see off brave Bangladesh by 107 runs
Rediff, India
Sri Lanka repel Bangladesh charge
The Press Association
Ashraful century leads Bangladesh fightback
International Herald Tribune
Bangladesh Fall Short Despite Ashraful Century
Cricket World, UK

Ashraful is on song

Mohammad Ashraful takes a run, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Dhaka, 4th day, December 30, 2008
4rd Day
Captain Mohammad Ashraful hit an unbeaten half-century Tuesday to leave Bangladesh needing another 267 runs to beat Sri Lanka on the final day of the first cricket Test with six wickets in hand.

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three wickets before an unbeaten 74-run sixth-wicket stand between Ashraful (70) and Shakib Al Hasan (34) boosted Bangladesh to 254-5 by stumps on the fourth day. The hosts had been floundering at 150-4 at tea.

Ashraful's eighth Test 50 contained 11 fours in 153 balls, and also ushered him into the 2,000-run club in his 47th match.

Ashraful had become the youngest Test century-scorer against Sri Lanka in Colombo on his international debut in 2001 at age 17.

Earlier, Sri Lanka declared its second innings before lunch at 405-6, anchored by captain Mahela Jayawardene's 166.

Bangladesh's run chase started badly when opener Imrul Kayes was run out for 13.

Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique took the score to 72 in the second session before Iqbal was caught by Jayawardene off Dammika Prasad for 47.

Siddique and Raqibul Hasan's third-wicket stand brought 52 runs until Siddique (37) was also caught by Jayawardene, this time off Muralitharan.

Muralitharan claimed his second wicket when he bowled Hasan for 24. He also dismissed Mehrab Hossain for 23 after tea.

Muralitharan finished the day with figures of 3-85 off 28 overs.

Resuming on 291-4 after a break day Monday for the Bangladesh election, Jayawardene added 37 to his overnight score of 129 before Siddique caught him off Mehrab Hossain. Jayawardene's 24th test century came off 269 balls with 19 boundaries and one six.

Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 47 before he was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Shakib Al Hasan, while Prasanna Jayawardene (3) and Chaminda Vaas (15) were unbeaten when Sri Lanka declared its innings.

Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Mehrab Hossain took two wickets apiece, while Mahbubul Alam and Shakib Al Hasan got one each.

Cricket- Sri Lanka v Bangladesh first test scoreboard Reuters.uk
Sri Lanka declares at 405 takes commanding lead International Herald Tribune
'We need only two wickets' - Dilshan
CricInfo.com
Cricket-Bangladesh (178&)254-5 v S Lanka (293&405-6 dec) - close
Reuters.uk, UK

SriLanka firmly in control

Muttiah Muralitharan appeals, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Mirpur, 1st day, December 26, 2008

2nd Day

Sri Lanka's old guard, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, struck back on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh to put their side firmly in control.

The pair claimed five and two wickets respectively, leaving the hosts on 177 for nine at stumps and continuing a fightback which began as Sri Lanka took their total close to 300 before being bowled out by lunch in Mirpur.

Vaas struck a stubborn 37, supporting Thilan Samaraweera (90) as the pair put on 99 for the seventh wicket to take the tourists to 293, despite figures of five for 70 from Shakib Al Hasan.

Resuming on 172 for six, the hosts began the morning session looking to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings in short order but found Samaraweera and Vaas resolute obstacles.

Vaas cracked the first boundary of the day in just the third over when he cut Shahadat Hossain to the fence before giving Al Hasan the same treatment.

Samaraweera then took over, punishing Mahbubul Alam with consecutive fours as Sri Lanka forged past 200. The 32-year-old then whipped Al Hasan through midwicket for his eighth boundary to bring up his 16th Test fifty from 83 balls.

Mashrafe Mortaza made the breakthrough with the new ball, getting one to move one away from Vaas and a thin edge carried through to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to leave Sri Lanka 270 for seven.

Shakib then removed Dammika Prasad for three and Rangana Herath was run out, before the spinner removed Samaraweera to end the innings.

Bangladesh began their reply confidently, reaching 44 before Tamim Iqbal (17) gloved Muralitharan to Malinda Warnapura at short leg.

It was a steady stream after that, with Imrul Kayes (33) falling to a Vaas short ball and Mohammad Ashraful (12) finding Tillakaratne Dilshan with an uppish drive to give the seamer his second.

Muralitharan then bowled Junaid Siddique for 29 in the last over before tea, going on to complete his haul of five for 48 as the hosts' tail capitulated.

Sri Lanka will want to nab the final wicket quickly on Sunday, and get going with their second inning.

Shakib strikes leave SL in trouble CricInfo.com
Bangladesh loses 9 wickets in run chase eTaiwan News
Bangladesh fold to Muralitharan BBC Sport

Sakib put pressure on Sri Lanka

Mohammad Ashraful has a word with Shahadat Hossain, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Mirpur, 1st day, December 26, 2008

1st Day
Shakib Al Hasan and Shahadat Hossain shared five quick wickets to spark Sri Lanka's collapse on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh here on Friday.Left-arm spinner Hasan grabbed 3-43 and seamer Hossain 2-47 as Sri Lanka slipped from a healthy 119-1 to 172-6 at stumps after electing to bat.Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 20 and Chaminda Vaas had yet to open his account when the day's play was called off due to bad light.Sri Lanka were on course for a big total following a 95-run stand for the second wicket between opener Michael Vandort (44) and Kumar Sangakkara (43) before faltering against the spin-pace combination.Hasan started the slide when he had Sangakkara caught by skipper Mohammad Ashraful at mid-wicket. The Sri Lankan hit seven fours, including two in the spinner's one over.Vandort fell two overs later, top-edging a pull off Hossain to be caught by Hasan at mid-wicket. His 124-ball knock contained a six over long-on off Hasan.Hasan then bowled skipper Mahela Jayawardene (three) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (14) to put Sri Lanka under pressure.Hossain's second victim was wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene (three), who was caught by Tamim Iqbal at fine-leg while attepting to pull.Only 12 overs were possible in the morning session after a delayed start due to heavy fog.The hosts denied Sri Lanka a solid start when paceman Mashrafe Mortaza trapped Malinda Warnapura (14) leg-before in the ninth over with a delivery that came in sharply.
Cricket-Sri Lanka v Bangladesh first test scoreboard Reuters.uk
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Mirpur CricInfo.com
Bangladesh claims 6 wickets vs. Sri Lanka eTaiwan News

ECB is more worried about money than Test series

So, the news is England is planning to scrap home Test series against Bangladesh after 2010. The question is 'why?' well, the answer is because of the increasing commercial unfeasibility of such contests. Hmm. Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, told reporters in Mohali, India this news where cricket gets its most popularity and money. So, money is the main reason to make this decision. There is no wonder about this decision considering the economic meltdown. But Giles Clarke says that "If we are going to have a proper strategy for Test cricket we want to have games like that we have just had in Chennai,". "It showed everybody just what a Test can be. There is a very hard-fought game between Australia and South Africa taking place in Perth at the moment. So, he is more worried about the holiness of test cricket.

But is it the real reason behind this decision? ECB will start its own IPL version Twenty20 English Premier League which is set to launch in 2010. So, in the future English players will be busier? To give them some relief ECB plans to shed some test series. And Bangladesh tour to England is the softest part of the FTP where ECB will throw its axe. Nowadays, ECB is more concerned about money. Surprisingly, a very much conservative ECB agrees the five year Stanford Twenty20 series (summer picnic) for $100 million. Stanford's high-profile relationship with ECB sealed the deal after landing at Lord's in a helicopter, and with a trunk full of $20m in banknotes. But according to a report in the Daily Mail, the inaugural tournament made a loss of more than US$40 million. This December Stanford scraps the deal and ECB in some trouble. So, we can understand their anguish.

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman a bright gambler who financed his Oxford education playing backgammon and bridge, a committee member of the Society of Merchant Venturers. And everyone in England is not happy about him. One county chairman said: "Clarke is a clown and a pompous one, and David Collier is a poor chief executive. There is no plan. No strategy. Everything is done off the hoof. Clarke should go."

The sad thing is nowadays cricket is run by merchants not by lovers.

Source:
1. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/dec/19/giles-clarke-ecb-allen-stanford-cricket-england
2. http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/382556.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
3.http://content-www.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/379071.html
4.http://content-www.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/current/story/382736.html

Sri Lanka in Bangladesh 2008-09

It is boring

Champaka Ramanayake has a word with Bangladesh's fast bowlers, Dhaka, December 19, 2008

Ranatunga sacked

Sri Lanka's sports minister Gamini Lokuge has dissolved the interim administration of Sri Lanka Cricket, headed by Arjuna Ranatunga, saying the situation at SLC demanded an immediate change.

The sports secretary, S Liyanagama, will oversee the SLC administration until a decision is taken - within the next week, Lokuge said - on whether to call for elections or to appoint another interim administration.

"Arjuna Ranatunga has not been cooperating with the company or the players," Lokuge was quoted as saying by PTI. "We tried to sort it out but could not and he has been removed."

The immediate issue was the sacking of 16 SLC employees by Ranatunga last week. At the time, SLC officials explained the decision by saying those sacked were holding positions no longer required by the organisation. However, the decision was apparently taken without informing the minister, directly contravening his order that he be consulted on every move.

Ranatunga, appointed to the post in January 2008 after Jayantha Dharmadasa decided to step down, has had a controversial tenure. Perhaps his most controversial decision was negotiating a tour of England by the senior team that would overlap with the second season of the IPL, to which many of the players are contracted. Ranatunga said his cash-strapped board badly needed the US$2 million which the ECB was offering as guarantee money for the tour. After a protracted tussle, the tour was eventually called off with West Indies slotted in to replace Sri Lanka.

He has been a vocal critic of the IPL, once comparing it once to instant noodles, and antagonised the Indian board by stating that India lost the first Test to Sri Lanka in July because they played too much Twenty20 cricket. He also sought tighter control for the national board over player contracts with the IPL.

In September, the SLC broke ranks with the official cricketing establishment by deciding to allow five cricketers and an umpire who had signed up for the unauthorised ICL to play domestic cricket.

Ranatunga met President Mahinda Rajapakse on Tuesday and it was widely speculated that he would be given a ministerial post.

from cricinfo

Sri Lanka VS Bangladesh Cricket Board XI

Sri Lanka had a fine batting practice against the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in the drawn three-dayers on Tuesday ahead of the two Tests series starting Dec. 26.

Having resumed on the final day on 36 for two, the visitors went on to make 316 all out in the first innings, with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Prasanna Jayawardene striking half centuries at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan ground. After the first day's play was called off due to foggy condition, Bangladesh were skittled out for just 88 on the second day on Monday.

The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur will host the first Test on Dec 26-31.
Pacer Shahadat Hossain removed opener Michael Vandort, who fell without adding to his overnight score of 17. But captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera repaired the damage to take their side to 87 for four before the latter fell to pacer Saikat Ali for 19.

Six balls later, Saikat again struck to remove Jayawardene, who made an 88-ball 43, to peg the visitors back. But Dilshan along with Prasanna kept the attack of the local selection at bay for the sixth wicket. They together contributed 158 runs before both batsmen retired to allow other batsmen to have some batting practice.

Dilshan struck 88 off 139 balls studded with seven fours and three sixes, while Prasanna hit a 126-ball 70 that included six fours. Later, Chaminda Vaas (24 not out), Dhamika Prasad (14), Farveez Maharoof (7) and Rangana Herath (0) batted before spinner Raihanuddin Arafat cleaned the tail removing the last three batsmen in a row. Arafat and Shahadat grabbed three wickets each for 37 and 63.
from BDnews 24.com

New national team coach for Zimbabwe Cricket

ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) axed national team coach Walter Chawaguta on Thursday, and advertised his job on its website. But Lovemore Banda, the ZC senior manager for communications and media said Chawaguta has not been
fired. "He is free to re-apply if he wishes," Banda said. Chawaguta replaced Robin Brown whose contract was not renewed in August, but the recent drubbing by Sri Lanka in five One Day Internationals has left ZC soul searching. ZC has made it clear that they will not engage a foreign coach. “It is unwarranted and unfortunate for people to disown their own, and all this speculation that ZC are looking at employing a foreign coach is totally unfounded and baseless,” said ZC managing director Ozias Bvute on the ZC website. According the ZC advert, the new coach is expected to lead the team in Test matches-where Zimbabwe is still unable to play, the one day matches and also have five years experience. This means the likes of former seamers Douglas Hondo, Ray Price and Heath Streak can even be considered, as they are locals. ZC flighted two advertisements, one for the senior national team coach and the other for the Zimbabwe A team. Zimbabwe’s next international fixture on the calendar is the opening match of a tri-nation tournament, against Bangladesh, in Dhaka on January 10.

THE ZC ADVERT:

POST 1: NATIONAL TEAM COACH:

1. The Job

• To coach the National Team and coordinate the various activities of the National Team in liaison with the National Team Manager and the other members of the technical staff.

• To plan strategically and prepare the National Cricket Team to play competitively and win
matches in all formats of the game.

• As 1 of the 10 Full Members of the ICC, Zimbabwe will participate in various formats of the
game such as Twenty20, ODIs and Test matches. As such the Coach should be versatile enough to adopt coaching methods to suit the above forms of cricket.

2. The Person:

Candidates must have the following:

• Previously played cricket at least at first class level.
• Be holders of a recognized level 3 coaching certificate and must have coached at senior level for at least 5 years.
• Have good analytical skills.
• Motivate players and be firm and fair
• Good leadership skills and be able to lead both the National Team and the technical staff

from newzimbabwe.com

David Miliband has praised the England cricket team for doing "the right thing"

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has praised the England cricket team for doing "the right thing" by returning to India in the wake of terror attacks.Mr Miliband said the decision showed that those who perpetrated the violence "will not win".The team flew home from India part-way through their one-day series in the wake of last month's carnage in Mumbai, which claimed more than 170 lives.But the squad arrived back on Monday for the two-Test series, insisting they wanted to signal support for the country.They have pledged half their fees from tomorrow's opening Test in Chennai - around £35,000 - to victims of the atrocities.Writing on his blog, Mr Miliband said he "applauded" the decision to return."It will be hard to focus on the cricket but it is the right thing to do," he wrote."Because it reaches out to India which has been wronged; because it shows confidence and commitment; and because it says terrorism will not win."

Taibu - facing assault charges.

Zimbabwe Cricket has been ordered to open its books following claims by former national captain Tatenda Taibu that assault charges he is facing are a part of a strategy to silence him for questioning the management of funds.Taibu appeared in a Harare court Thursday on charges of assaulting ZC finance manager Esther Lupepe in September over outstanding payments owed to him. Taibu said the charges are meant to embarrass and punish him for his criticism of the board.The court ordered ZC to submit documents showing its payroll, sponsorship deals and grants from the International Cricket Council.The 25-year-old Taibu said he had raised concern over the handling of board funds, dubious employment of staff members and poor remuneration of players just a few days before he was arrested on the 30th of September.

Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh, 2008-09

Sun 21 - Tue 23 10:00 local, 04:00 GMT	TBC v Sri Lankans Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan Ground, Savar
Fri 26 - Wed 31 10:00 local, 04:00 GMT	1st Test - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur 29th is a rest day for elections
January 2009
Sat 3 - Wed 7 10:00 local, 04:00 GMT	2nd Test - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka Chittagong Divisional Stadium

Mendis to miss Bangladesh Tests

Spin bowler Ajantha Mendis has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's forthcoming Test series in Bangladesh because of an ankle injury.The 23-year-old, recently named world cricket's Emerging Player of the Year, suffered the injury in a club match.

Mendis will be replaced by Rangana Herath for the two-match series, which starts in Mirpur on 26 December. But he hopes to play in the triangular one-day series, also involving Zimbabwe, which follows in January.

He took 26 wickets at a cost of only 18 runs each, breaking former England seam bowler Alec Bedser's 62-year-old record for the most victims in a three-match series.

Sri Lanka have won all 10 previous Test meetings with Bangladesh and, despite Mendis's absence, will be confident of extending that run.

Six day test

As expected the duration of first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would be six days as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially released the itineraries for the Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe tours on Friday.

The rest day, which has been shelved by the game's rule-makers since the mid-1990s, will take place on December 29, the day of the national parliamentary election.

It falls on the fourth day of the originally scheduled first Test that begins on December 26.

Sri Lanka will arrive in the capital on December 19 to play two Tests and a tri-nation one-day series that also includes Zimbabwe who will arrive in Dhaka on January 4.

The hectic home schedule will kick-off with a three-day match between Sri Lanka and a local selection which will start on December 21 in BKSP.

Zimbabwe will play their tour opener three-day match against GP-BCB National Cricket Academy from January 6 at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra and they will play three more one-day internationals against the Tigers after the tri-nation series.

On the other hand the national selectors will first announce the Test team for the two-match series against Sri Lanka after the completion of the ninth round of National Cricket League matches.

The Tigers will play the penultimate round of the country's lone first-class competition before another tough challenge against the formidable Lankans and after that the national cricketers will practice in a weeklong camp under the guidance of Jamie Siddons who returns from vacation on January 13.

"We will announce the Test squad after the ninth round matches. There is however hardly any chance to see any changes in the team except if someone got injured," said chief selector Rafiqul Alam yesterday.

There has been talk about uncapped paceman Rubel Hossain and the replacement of left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who has been suspended from international cricket due to his illegal action but Rafiqul ruled out the chances of any newcomers.

"Rubel just returned to action in the last round of the national league and he has to play more cricket in domestic level to get back his rhythm and we are still not thinking about the replacement of Razzak," Rafiqul added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's planned tour of the West Indies in April has been rescheduled for June and July as both parties have other lucrative commitments during that time.

Spinner Razzak suspended

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has been suspended from international cricket for illegal bowling action by the International Cricket Council, Bangladesh cricket team manager Shafiqul Haq Heera told bdnews24.com in South Africa on Monday.

"Razzak has been found guilty of bowling faults and cannot bowl in any form of cricket until his action is corrected," Heera told bdnews24.com correspondent Masud Parvez in the largest South African city.

Bangladesh Cricket Board's newly-elected director Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu told bdnews24.com coach Salahuddin Ahmed would work with Razzak to rectify his 'faulty' action.

The former national captain said they would apply for a reassessment of the bowling action once the spinner modifies his stance.

"At this point, I really don't know the details of the report. But I am confident that I will be able correct whatever faults I have," said a gloomy Razzak in Johannesburg while packing the bag to return home with the rest of the squad.

Razzak travelled to Canberra in November for an independent analysis of his bowling action after he was reported for a suspect bowling action by Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva during the second and final Test of the two Tests series against New Zealand at home in October.

The analysis report, revealed by the ICC on Monday, showed that the amount of elbow extension in Razzak's bowling action for both his stock delivery and the faster ball exceeded the 15 degree level of tolerance.

The elbow extension ranged from 22 to 28 degrees and averaged 25 degrees while his quicker ball showed results in the 22 to 28-degree range with an average of 24 degrees.

Lipu also said Razzak would not be eligible to bowl even in domestic cricket due to the degrees of his elbow bending, but could play as a batsman.

Umpires Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva reported that they had concerns over the 26-year-old spinner's faster ball and hence requested the ICC to review his action.

Razzak has taken seven wickets in five test matches and claimed 110 victims in 79 one-day internationals.

Razzak was assessed by Marc Portusa, a member of the ICC panel of human movement specialists, appointed in consultation with the BCB, at the Australian Institute of Sports on Nov. 17.

This is the second time Razzak has been reported for the same offence in his career. The first instance was during an Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo in 2004 in what was only his second one-day international.

South Africa win the 2nd test against

South Africa swept aside Bangladesh by an innings and 48 runs in the second Test Friday at SuperSport Park, wrapping up victory more than an hour before the close on the third day of the match.

South Africa was led by centuries from Ashwell Prince, who hit a career-best 162 not out, and Mark Boucher (117) and carved out a first innings lead of 179. They were dismissed shortly before lunch Friday, and then skittled Bangladesh for 131 in their second innings, in 36.4 overs.

Although Bangladesh were competitive for longer periods in the second Test, they put up a poor show in their second innings in the face of fiery fast bowling from the Proteas, with Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel and Monde Zondeki each picking up two wickets. The tourists also suffered three run-outs.

Bangladesh showed no stomach for the Proteas' short-pitched bowling, and only four batsmen reached the 20s. Debutante middle-order batsman Raqibul Hasan was the top scorer with 28.

South African opening batsman Neil McKenzie scored a duck when his side batted, but grabbed his second great diving catch in the gully, off Morne Morkel, to send Tamim Iqbal on his way for 20.

Prince was named man of the match and of the series. He scored 59 not out in his only innings in the first Test.

The major breakthrough for the tourists had come via left-arm spinner Shakib al Hasan, who took three wickets in fours balls in his second over of the day, midway through the first session.

Al Hasan finished with 6-99 in the Proteas first innings. He was clubbed for 11 runs in his first over of the day, which included a four and six to midwicket by Prince, but he hit back dramatically in his next over.

Prince surpassed his previous best score of 149, scored against England at Leeds earlier this year, just over an hour into the day's play, but Mark Boucher's dismissal soon afterward set in motion a lower-order collapse.

The South African wicketkeeper prodded an Al Hasan delivery to silly mid-off when he had made 117. He had hit 16 fours and the partnership between he and Prince was broken at 271, compiled in 190 minutes.

Morne Morkel chopped the next ball onto his leg and back onto the stumps to be out for a duck, and two balls later Monde Zondeki was caught behind as Al Hasan's final ball of the over brushed his gloves.

Makhaya Ntini was the third batsman in a row dismissed without scoring, when he drove Shahadat Hossain to mid-off for Mohammad Ashraful to take a diving catch. Dale Steyn, who scored one run, helped Prince add 17 for the last wicket before bottom-edging an attempted hook onto his stumps to give Hossain his second wicket.

Prince's 10th Test century meant he has scored a hundred against all the other test-playing countries except Sri Lanka. The gritty left-hander finished with 23 fours and two sixes.

South Africa won the first Test by an innings and 129 runs at Bloemfontein.

Siddique and Rahim guide Bangladesh, 2nd Test Bangladesh in South africa 2008

Morne Morkel caught and bowled Mohammad Ashraful

1st Day
Junaid Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim hit half-centuries to lead a spirited Bangladesh batting effort on the first day of the second and final Test against South Africa at Centurion Park Wednesday.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 250, with Siddique making 67 and Rahim 65.

South Africa were 20 for one at the close, with Neil McKenzie dismissed for nought in the third over of the innings.

Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel took four wickets each but South Africa's all-pace attack met stiffer resistance than they did in the first Test in Bloemfontein, where South Africa won by an innings and 129 runs.

The bowlers were not helped by some uncharacteristically sloppy South African fielding, with both Siddique and Rahim surviving two dropped catches.

The tourists showed greater resolve from the moment captain Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and decided to bat, in a reversal of his team's policy in the first Test.

It took South Africa an hour to separate opening batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, who batted with patience and discipline.

There was another useful stand between Iqbal and Siddique but Bangladesh seemed to be heading for familiar territory when three wickets fell for 17 runs on either side of lunch to reduce them to 71 for four.

But Siddique and new cap Raqibul Hasan put on 51 for the fifth wicket before Shakib Al Hasan and Siddique added 37 for the sixth wicket.

The left-handed Siddique was seventh man out after facing 144 balls and hitting 11 boundaries. He played some confident off-side strokes after surviving chances on 14 and 19.

Rahim, batting at number eight, had only 16 when he was joined by last man Mahbubul Alam but he then went for his shots in a last wicket stand of 56 in which Alam scored only one run.

The diminutive Rahim hooked and then pulled South Africa's leading fast bowler Dale Steyn for sixes. It was a poor day for Steyn, who took only one wicket and conceded 80 runs in 17 overs.

Ntini was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking four for 32 in 19.2 overs before leaving the field after two balls in a final spell with what appeared to be cramp.

The tall Morkel bowled some ferocious deliveries but struggled to find a consistent rhythm, conceding 12 no-balls as he took four for 73 in 18 overs.

South Africa made a poor start when McKenzie was squared up by a lifting delivery from Mashrafe Mortaza and looped a catch to gully.

New batsman Hashim Amla survived a frenzied appeal for a legside catch by wicketkeeper Rahim off Mortaza's next ball but umpire Ian Gould ruled correctly that the ball had deflected off the batsman's thigh pad.

Scoreboard at close of play on the first day of the second and final Test between South Africa and Bangladesh at Centurion Park here on Wednesday:

Bangladesh, first innings

Falls: 1-25 (Kayes), 2-56 (Iqbal), 3-57 (Ashraful), 4-71 (Mehrab), 5-122 (Raqibul), 6-159 (Shakib), 7-166 (Siddique), 8-186 (Mortaza), 9-194 (Shahadat)

Sri Lanka win Series, 3rd One Day International

Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by five runs in the third One Day International in Harare to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series after the home side's spirited chase of 172 in 28 overs ended when Muttiah Muralitharan had Tawanda Mupariwa stumped with six runs required from the last ball of the innings.Kumar Sangakkara made 57, top scoring for Sri Lanka for the third match in a row, as they posted 171 for seven in 28 overs after early rain prevented play getting underway on time.His 59-ball innings held the innings together in difficult batting conditions which saw seam bowlers Tawanda Mupariwa (4-39) and Elton Chigumbura (3-37) share all seven wickets to fall.Chamara Kapugedera (28) and Upul Tharanga (29) both made starts but were unable to convert them while Mahela Udawatte (1) and Mahela Jayawardene (4) fell for single figure scores.Jehan Mubarak made 22 from 21 balls and Farveez Maharoof 14 from eight as Sri Lanka tried to accelerate late on. Sangakkara was caught by Mupariwa off of Chigumbura with two overs left in the innings.Sri Lanka, bowled out for 127 and 67 in the opening two matches, came alive with the bat as Hamilton Masakadza blasted seven fours and two sixes to spearhead their run chase with 77 from 71 balls.Vusi Sibanda (25) and Tatenda Taibu (31) offered solid support but the innings lost momentum as Sri Lanka turned to spinners Muralitharan (2-20) and Ajantha Mendis (2-36) while left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara (2-31) removed both openers.Masakadza was caught by Nuwan Kulasekera off of Thushara in the 25th over and Zimbabwe eventually needed 20 to win from the final 12 balls.They were still in the game, but when Stuart Matsikenyeri's punchy innings of 19 from 10 balls ended with five balls to go, Sri Lanka were favourites once again and Muralitharan conceded just four from the next four balls, leaving Mupariwa needing six to win.He ran down the track, swung, missed, Sangakkara did the rest, and Muralitharan took his second wicket as Zimbabwe closed on 166 for seven having put up much more of a fight than many expected after the first two mismatches.
Sri Lanka 171-7 (Sangakkara 57, Mupariwa 4-39, Chigumbura 3-37) beat
Zimbabwe 166-7 (Masakadza 77, Murailtharan 2-20) by five runs

Shahriar Nafees Guides ICL Bangladesh To Win

A vital, brilliant innings of 70 not out from opening batsman Shahriar Nafees threw the ICL World Series wide open as ICL Bangladesh beat ICL India by five wickets in Ahmedaabad.ICL India got off to a flying start, were pegged back and then accelerated again to post 164 for nine before Shahriar thumped a four and a six off the first two balls of the final over before running a single to seal victory with three balls to spare.After Ibrahim Khaleel (27) and Ambati Rayadu (22) had overcome the early loss of Ganapahi Vignesh for nine, the Bangladesh bowlers struck back with Mosharraf Hossain claiming three for 41. The pace man removed Rayadu (22), Hemang Badani (12) and Stuart Binny (27) before India hit back themselves.Captain Rajagopal Sathish smashed 44 from 20 balls to haul India, who beat Pakistan yesterday after conceding a similar score, back into contention.Sathish hammered four sixes along with two fours, being particularly brutal on Farhad Reza, whose four overs disappeared for 34 runs.Tapash Baisya returned two for 33 while Mohammad Rafique picked up one for 30 and a dropped catch on the boundary that allowed Binny a life.Nazimuddin (2) fell early for Bangladesh before a partnership of 52 in 28 balls between Aftab Ahmed (26) and Shahriar got the underdogs back on track. Ahmed twice flicked Rakesh Patel over fine leg before he was bowled by spinner Inder Shekar Reddy in the eighth over.One solid partnership followed another as Alok Kapali hit 44 in 23 balls with two fours and four sixes as he added 58 for the third wicket to push India back.The reigning champions fought hard, however, Reddy having Kapali brilliantly caught by Jesuraj and Ali Murtaza bowling Mohammad Rafique for 16. With 17 needed in two overs, Shahriar was dropped by Rayadu and although the same fielder caught the next ball, lofted his way by Golam Mabud (2), Shahriar had escaped.He needed 11 from the final over and he hammered Murtaza through midwicket for four with Reddy beaten on the boundary, thumped the next ball over the sightscreen and then took advantage of another misfield to scamper through for the winning run.
ICL Bangladesh XI 165-5 (Shahriar Nafees 70no, Jesuraj 2-25) beat
ICL India XI 164-9 (Sathish 44, Mosharraf Hossain 3-48) by five wickets

ICL Bangladesh lost the opening game by 12 runs

Dhaka Warriors playing under the banner of Bangladesh XI wasted a wonderful opportunity of ruling the World stars at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad yesterday.

Making their debut in the ICL World Series, Habibul Bashar's men were nicely placed to topple World XI's 167-6 in the slam bang Twenty20 competition when they raced to 61 in just six overs.

But a stunning middle-order collapse that saw the Bangladesh side losing six wickets for 16 runs irrevocably turned the match on its head and despite some power hitting by the tail-enders they lost the game by 12 runs.

The Warriors were off to a rollicking start with opener Nazimuddin hitting former Australian paceman Jason Gillespie for successive sixes during his 11-ball 22. Aftab Ahmed started from where Nazimuddin had left off hammering 29 off 17 balls.

But the game changed rapidly when the man in form Alok Kapali was out to former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener's first over, mistiming an attempted pull straight to the throat of Ian Harvey at short mid-wicket.

His dismissal actually sparked the collapse for no good reason on a wicket that was as true as it could get. Batsmen appeared and then disappeared quickly hitting innocuous deliveries straight to a fieldsman and the Warriors, who were at one stage looking great at 75-2 suddenly found themselves in deep trouble with 90-7.

An ageless Mohammad Rafique, who had earlier bowled beautifully and picked up three wickets for 20 runs and that too with the new ball, scored a fighting 20. Another left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain also batted well down the order. He scored an unbeaten 28 but the Warriors could not catch up with the ever increasing run-rate despite two sixes from number ten batsman Tapas Baisya.

The Warriors needed 24 runs in the final over but could mange 11 runs only.

Klusener stole what easily could have been a Rafique show with a virtuoso all-round performance.

The left-hander hammered an unbeaten 63 off 49 balls to give the World XI a competitive total. He was also responsible for Warrior's middle-order collapse, claiming three wickets for 18 runs in his four overs. He actually picked up two wickets of successive delivers brining a broad smile on the face of his captain Chris Harris.

ICL Bangladesh

ICL's newly inducted side ICL-Bangladesh take on a galaxy of international stars constituents of the formidable ICL World side in the tournament opener at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad tomorrow, Sunday, November 23rd. The Talented Bangladesh side picked from ICL's Dhaka Warriors side would primarily depend on its strong batting line-up, in what is expected to be a high scoring cricket encounter.

The big player to watch out for would be undoubtedly Alok Kapali, ICL first centurion along with openers Shahriar Nafees & Mohammad Nazimuddin, and dashing middle order batsman Aftab Ahmed. The bowling responsibility will rest on the able shoulders of the two left arm spinners Mohammad Rafique & Mosharraf Hossain, with Kapali playing the vital clog as the third spinner. If one has to point out one weakness in the talented Bangladeshi side, it has to be its pace department, which has yet to come to terms with the T20 Format of the game. For Bangladesh to remain competitive it will be critical for pace-men Mohammad Shariff & Tapash Baisya to work up some disciplined line & length so that easy runs are not given away in the critical opening overs of the opposition innings.

On the other hand, is the ICL World team led by the experienced Chris Harris. The side boasts of some of the biggest names in the business across all departments of the game and start the tournament as one of the favorites. The batting will be led by one of the best T20 players of the world Ian Harvey, ably supported by Murray Goodwin, Damien Martyn & Marvan Atapattu. The World side bat deep with their lower middle order reading in-form names like skipper Chris Harris, Nicky Boje, Lance Klusener & Justin Kemp. The bowling will be spearheaded by a rejuvenated and inspired Jason Gillespie, who gave a brilliant account of himself, representing Ahmedabad Rockets at the recently concluded ICL 20s Indian Championship. The spin department will be led by one of the best performing players in the ICL Nicky Boje, who adds flexibility and strength to all departments of the game for the ICL World.

Based on the performances of the players in the recently concluded ICL 20s Indian Championship; ICL World should start as favorites, in what is expected to be a high scoring cricket encounter. The key battles should be between the Bangladesh batsmen Vs the formidable ICL–World pace attack, along with that between the Bangladesh spinners & ICL–World batsmen.

ICL World Series poster

Why the background of the poster has so many second world war planes?

South African win 1st test by an innings and 129 runs defeat against Bangladesh

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful admitted his side failed to cope with South Africa's fast bowlers after they crashed to an innings and 129 runs defeat on the fourth day of the first Test at Springbok Park here Saturday.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 159 in their follow-on innings after being dismissed for 153 in the first innings.

"The wicket was good but it had a bit of bounce and the batsmen couldn't apply themselves," said Ashraful.

The left-handed Mehrab Hossain provided the only highlight for Bangladesh Saturday as they lost seven wickets for 92 runs, with the match ending 20 minutes before lunch.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn took five for 63, his ninth five-wicket haul in 26 Tests.

Ashraful said he would look for an improved performance in the second and final Test starting in Centurion Wednesday but indicated there would be no change from the generally aggressive approach by his team's batsmen.

Responding to a suggestion that some of the batsmen may have thrown their wickets away, Ashraful said: "It might appear that way but in Test cricket you also have to score runs."

There is unlikely to be any respite for Bangladesh as South African coach Mickey Arthur said he had requested a pitch with pace and bounce at Centurion.

South African captain Graeme Smith, who was named man of the match after scoring 157 in South Africa's innings, said he was satisfied with his team's first Test outing in almost three months.

He was not concerned by the lack of form of some of his top order batsmen, with the side slumping from 327 for one to 441 for nine.

"We wanted everyone to have a good go in the middle in these two Test matches.

"It wasn't a wicket where it was easy to force the pace and when we tried to do that in the middle order we lost our way a bit, with maybe one or two careless shots.

"But 450, 500 was a total we wanted to declare on so we could have a go at their batsmen that afternoon."

Smith and Arthur indicated that fast bowler Monde Zondeki might come into the side in place of injured left-arm spinner Paul Harris for the second Test as part of an all-pace attack, despite the recall of Robin Peterson, another left-armer, for Centurion.

Overnight batsmen Ashraful and Hossain survived the first half hour without any major alarms before Makhaya Ntini switched to bowling around the wicket. His first delivery after the change reared up at Ashraful who could only fend the ball to Neil McKenzie at gully.

It was the start of a disastrous period for Bangladesh as three wickets fell for one run in 11 balls.

Shakib Al Hasan was undone by the pace of Steyn, caught behind as he tried to withdraw his bat, before first innings top scorer Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for nought after a mix-up with Mehrab Hossain.

After that Bangladesh were doomed to an early defeat, with Steyn having Naeem Islam caught behind off a classic fast bowler's away swinger. Mashrafe Mortaza was bowled before Mehrab Hossain and Shahadat Hossain put on 44 for the ninth wicket.

Shahadat, whose stand of 60 with Mushfiqur Rahim was the best of the first innings, again lived dangerously as he made 16 before he was bowled by Steyn.

Jacques Kallis completed South Africa's win when he had last man Muhbubul Alam caught at mid-on.

Proteas in charge

South Africa enjoyed a commanding position at tea on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh.

After declaring their first innings on 441 for nine, the hosts reduced Bangladesh to 33 for three in Bloemfontein.

Dale Steyn produced a superb delivery to uproot Tamim Iqbal's off stump before Junaid Siddique got a leading edge to Morne Morkel to give Ashwell Prince a simple catch at point. Imrul Kayes was the third man to go, caught by Hashim Amla off the bowling of Paul Harris.

Earlier in the day, the home side lost four wickets for 38 runs before Prince (59 not out) helped steer them to a sizeable total.

Harris injury blow for South Africa

South African left-arm spinner Paul Harris suffered a fracture to the base of his left thumb before play started in the first Test against Bangladesh, it was revealed Thursday.

It was announced that Harris would not bat but that he would be able to bowl.

The injury happened during the warm-up before play Wednesday. Because it happened after the toss Harris could not be replaced.

Media officer Michael Owen-Smith said further details would be released when a full medical report was available.

ICL Bangladesh off to India

The Habibul Bashar-led cricketers left the capital yesterday to play the rebel Indian Cricket League World Series that starts from November 23.

The second tournament of the competition's second season will see Bashar's men, who previously former Dhaka Warriors, as ICL Bangladesh and they will be pitted against ICL India, Pakistan and World XI.

The series of matches begin with the Indian side taking on arch-rivals Pakistan XI, no doubt made up of the entire Lahore Badshahs line-up, in the opener in Ahmedabad.

ICL Bangladesh begin their campaign against the strong World XI on November 25. They play against Pakistan and India on November 27 and 28 respectively. All matches will be held under lights.

The fourteen rebel cricketers took part in the breakaway tournament as Dhaka Warriors and were subsequently banned for ten years by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in October.

They produced a mixed bag of results, winning half of their eight matches. They narrowly missed a spot in the semifinals as they finished fifth.

But there was individual success, with Alok Kapali hitting the first ICL century and finishing with 324 runs from eight outings, fourth highest in the tournament.

Veteran left-armer Mohammad Rafique finished with 14 wickets with a best of 3 for 28.

Before their departure, Bashar's men faced reporters at the Zia International Airport and expressed hopes of being in the final.

"The players are in high spirits and we are dreaming of playing in the final," said the former national captain.

The support they received so far have inspired them a lot and would spur them on in the World Series, the former Bangladesh captain added.

TEAM
Habibul Bashar (captain), Shahriar Nafees (vice-captain), Nazimuddin, Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh, Forhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh, Mahbubul Karim, Monjurul Islam, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Sharif, Mosharraf Hossain, Tapash Baisya.

Inzy Proposes Lahore Badshahs vs Pakistan

Pakistan’s cricketers have been complaining of lack of cricket throughout 2008 and are of the view that their preparations for the important home series against India early next year would remain incomplete without proper match practice.With international teams preferring to stay away from Pakistan because of security fears, it seems that the national cricketers have no option but to wait for the home series against India early 2009.

But ask former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and he will tell you that the issue can be resolved without much effort.

“If the Pakistan team thinks it is short on match practice, then it can play a series of matches against Lahore Badshahs,” said Inzamam, who led the team to an impressive title-winning triumph in the recent season of the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Inzamam pointed out that Badshahs have a number of quality players and can provide tough competition to Shoaib Malik-led Pakistan.

“Playing for Pakistan is the biggest honour because nothing can match it,” said Inzamam. “But people in Pakistan also love Lahore Badshahs which is why I believe matches between Pakistan and Badshahs will been keenly followed by cricket fans all over the country,” he said.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to consider this idea because it doesn’t recognise the rebel ICL. In fact it has banned all players linked to ICL.

Inzamam also said that Malik is taking Pakistan cricket towards destruction by failing to take along the team’s senior players. Supporting star batsman Mohammad Yousuf’s claim that Malik is disrespectful towards seniors, Inzamam said that no team can do well without complete unity.
Pakistan’s cricketers have been complaining of lack of cricket throughout 2008 and are of the view that their preparations for the important home series against India early next year would remain incomplete without proper match practice.With international teams preferring to stay away from Pakistan because of security fears, it seems that the national cricketers have no option but to wait for the home series against India early 2009.

But ask former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and he will tell you that the issue can be resolved without much effort.

“If the Pakistan team thinks it is short on match practice, then it can play a series of matches against Lahore Badshahs,” said Inzamam, who led the team to an impressive title-winning triumph in the recent season of the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Inzamam pointed out that Badshahs have a number of quality players and can provide tough competition to Shoaib Malik-led Pakistan.

“Playing for Pakistan is the biggest honour because nothing can match it,” said Inzamam. “But people in Pakistan also love Lahore Badshahs which is why I believe matches between Pakistan and Badshahs will been keenly followed by cricket fans all over the country,” he said.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to consider this idea because it doesn’t recognise the rebel ICL. In fact it has banned all players linked to ICL.

Inzamam also said that Malik is taking Pakistan cricket towards destruction by failing to take along the team’s senior players. Supporting star batsman Mohammad Yousuf’s claim that Malik is disrespectful towards seniors, Inzamam said that no team can do well without complete unity.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/lahore-badshah-inzamam-challenges-pakistan-cricket-team_100120429.html

Back injury forces Rasel to fly home

Left-arm medium-pacer Sajidul Islam has been called up to Bangladesh's Test squad in South Africa as a last-minute replacement for Syed Rasel, who's been forced to return home after a back injury flared up.

Sajidul is expected to reach South Africa on November 17, two days before the first Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein. He had played in the two Tests against New Zealand in January this year during Bangladesh's tour of the country; Sajidul was added to the touring party after Rasel, also a left-armer, dislocated a shoulder during a practice game in December last year. Sajidul has taken 17 wickets in five games this season in the National Cricket League, Bangladesh's domestic first-class competition, at 19 apiece.

Rasel has been in and out of Bangladesh's side since that shoulder dislocation, plagued by various injury problems. He has played only eight of Bangladesh's 26 ODIs this year, and hasn't played in a Test since July 2007. Like the other bowlers, Rasel didn't have too much success in the ODI leg of their South Africa trip, giving away 131 runs in 20 overs for his two wickets. Bangladesh's selectors had retained the players in their limited-overs squad for the two Tests.

3rd ODI Bangladesh in South Africa 2008

The final one-day international between South Africa and Bangladesh at East London has been washed out. The weather had been poor through the night and there was no let-up during the morning ahead of the day/night encounter, leaving the umpires no option but to abandon the game an hour before the start.

Why Smith is making such awful fuss?

"It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are
three wickets down"South Africa captain Graeme Smith

I know Graeme Smith is not only a very aggressive Batsman but also famous for his firebrand remarks. He likes to attack both on field and off field. Now, he targets a relatively soft target which is unfortunately helpless Bangladesh cricket team. He joins the cheerleading club "GetOUT Bangladesh".South Africa scored 358 runs in 50 Overs and four wickets were down.
Bangladeshi bowlers are massacred by South African bowlers.

Fall of wickets of Bangladesh
1-46 (Tamim Iqbal, 4.6 ov), 2-88 (Imrul Kayes, 16.1 ov), 3-101 (Mohammad Ashraful, 19.4 ov), 4-127 (Raqibul Hasan, 26.5 ov), 5-140 (Junaid Siddique, 31.3 ov), 6-169 (Shakib Al Hasan, 38.2 ov), 7-170 (Naeem Islam, 38.6 ov), 8-172 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 40.6 ov), 9-225
(Mashrafe Mortaza, 48.3 ov), 10-230 (Syed Rasel, 49.2 ov)

Bangladesh started the inning brightly thanks to the storming innings from Tamim. After him only Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan were the last hope to cross 300 marks. But after loss of three top order batsman is there any team in the world want to chase 358 runs in a cloudy and windy day with Dale Steyn bowling at 140Km/h? Every team wants to build up partnership from there and try to make losing margin smaller. But according to him this approach makes the "sad day for cricket". Is it so easy to make Cricket sad so easily? Is Cricket like a crying doll who always cries when the button is pressed?

3rd ODI at Kennington Oval, London - Aug 29, 2008
England won by 126 runs
England 296/7 (50 ov); South Africa 170 (42.4 ov)
Fall of wickets1-19 (Gibbs, 6.3 ov), 2-67 (Amla, 15.4 ov), 3-77 (Kallis, 18.2 ov), 4-82 (de Villiers, 20.5 ov), 5-114 (Boucher, 28.6 ov), 6-134 (JA Morkel, 32.4 ov), 7-142 (Duminy, 33.5 ov), 8-160 (M Morkel, 38.4 ov), 9-170 (Botha, 42.1 ov), 10-170 (Ntini, 42

Look at this scoreboard. Aug 29, 2008 was another sad day for Cricket. Isn`t it? Let us stood side-by-side for a one-minute silence in memory of that day (!).

Why he is making such awful fuss? Perhaps he did not want to field for long 218 minutes (49.2 overs). "You can fry an egg on his (Smith's) face within two minutes." Shane Warne. Thank you Mr. Shane Warne your one line statement has expressed thousand words.

2nd ODI Bangladesh in South Africa 2008

Hashim Amla scored his maiden one-day international century as South Africa beat Bangladesh by 128 runs to take a 2-0 lead in their three-game series. He shared an opening stand of 136 with Graeme Smith (65) and cracked four sixes in his run-a-ball 140. AB de Villiers hit four maximums in his 54 not out, while Albie Morkel smashed 37 off 13 to set an imposing 358-4. Tamim Iqbal blazed 41 off 22 but the Tigers reply faltered as Johan Botha and Dale Steyn took three wickets each. An asking rate starting at over seven-an-over was always going to be too much for Bangladesh who had not helped themselves with some wayward bowling and poor fielding after asking their hosts to bat first. Amla was dropped by Mashrafe Mortaza on 15 and he took full advantage, playing some elegant strokes early on before extending his arms in the later overs. Smith was also dropped, on 54, but looked in good touch on his return from the tennis elbow injury he suffered while on tour in England in August, stroking six fours and one six to help set the foundation for his side's huge total. Kallis also scored his 49 at a run-a-ball before being cleaned up by Abdur Razzak, while de Villiers and Morkel produced some late fireworks, hitting seven sixes and five fours between them. "It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are three wickets down"
South Africa captain Graeme Smith

Teenager Iqbal hit four boundaries in Johann Louw's first over and two fours and a six off Steyn in the next to get Bangladesh's reply off to a bold start. But, after scoring 41 off 21 deliveries, he top-edged an attempted hook off Steyn to JP Duminy at square leg and the Tigers stuttered. Off-spinner Botha removed Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Ashraful in quick succession to leave Bangladesh 101-3. Junaid Siddique started aggressively, but became tied down and was leg before to Botha for 47 off 80 balls, to leave the visitors 140-5 and only a plucky ninth-wicket partnership between Mortaza and Abdur Razzak gave the score any respectability. But Bangladesh's approach to the game drew criticism from South Africa skipper Smith. He said: "It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are three wickets down. "Perhaps it's something that cricket needs to look at."

South Africa beats Bangladesh by 61 runs in the 1st ODI

Fast bowler Dale Steyn wrecked Bangladesh with a haul of 4-16 to help South Africa complete a 61-run victory in their first one-day cricket international Friday.

Bangladesh was bowled for 222 in the 45th over, after good late-innings hitting propelled South Africa to 283-8 at Senwes Park.

South Africa leads 1-0 in the three-match series, with the next match scheduled for Sunday in Benoni.

Man of the match Steyn, only recently returned to action after illness, snared two early wickets to leave the Bangladeshis on 19-2. Later, he removed danger man and captain Mohammad Ashraful for 73 as he struck twice in two balls in the 35th over.

Ashraful had featured in two threatening partnerships. He and opener Tamim Iqbal - 24 off 39 balls with four fours - added 54 for the third wicket, keeping up the required run-rate until the 14th over.

Then, after Iqbal was run out, Ashraful paced himself well in concert with left-hander Shakib Al Hasan - 51 off 77 balls with six fours - to add 92 for the fifth wicket in 20 overs.

Bowling with attitude, Steyn struck with the first ball of his second spell, having Ashraful, who had started to accelerate his scoring rate ominously, caught behind. The small but powerful right-hander smashed 10 fours in a delightful 79-ball innings, four of them in one Johan Louw over.

After his dismissal, Bangladesh folded and was all out in 44.2 overs. Allrounder Albie Morkel also grabbed two wickets in an over in his 3-40, while his brother Morne finished with 2-44.

South Africa smashed 66 in its final five overs to make the total competitive.

Rookie allrounder Louw battered three sixes and a boundary for 23 off seven balls, and captain Johan Botha hit five fours but needed eight extra deliveries for his 23.

The Proteas' run-rate had earlier been slowed by Bangladeshi spinners Naeem Islam and Abdur Razzak.

Jacques Kallis top-scored with 50 off 73 balls and put on the biggest partnership of 69 with A.B. de Villiers - 35 off 43 with three fours - for the third wicket in just under 15 overs. Kallis was out to a good catch on the long-leg boundary by Iqbal off Islam.

The only other 50-run stand was between openers Hashim Amla and Justin Ontong. Amla was run out for 35 off 34 balls with six fours after being sent back when attempting a risky single, to leave South Africa at 56-1. Ontong hit four fours in his 27 off 38 balls.

Botha slammed a four off the first ball of the 46th over through mid-on to start the late onslaught, and picked up another boundary sweeping to fine-leg in the same over.

He flicked two boundaries in two balls off reverse sweeps in the next over from Islam, but was out immediately afterward when he top-edged a conventional sweep to Razzak.

That brought Louw to the wicket and he smashed a six to midwicket off his first ball, from slow left-armer Shakib al Hasan, then repeated the feat immediately, hitting the ball even farther.

Louw followed the sixes with a beautiful cover drive to the fence off the third ball he faced, to take his tally to 16.

In the 49th and next over, Louw easily cleared the midwicket boundary for a third six. But he was out off the first ball of the final over, bowled by left-arm seamer Syed Rasel as he went for another big shot.

At the other end, the Proteas' renowned big hitter, Albie Morkel, rotated the strike. He brought an end to the innings by lifting a ball from Rasel over the boundary at wide mid-on to finish 32 not out off 39 balls with two fours and a six.

Islam was the best of the Bangladesh bowlers with 3-60 after dismissing Kallis, De Villiers and Botha.

For more news

Steyn blows Bangladesh away The Times, South Africa

Steyn rescues stuttering Proteas Independent Online, South Africa

SA beat Bangladesh by 61 runs Dispatch Online, South Africa

Steyn too sharp for Tigers SkySports

Steyn pace sinks Bangladesh AFP

Dhaka trampled by Naved show

A spectacular all-round show from Naved-ul-Hasan propelled the Lahore Badshahs to a comfortable 5-wicket win over Dhaka Warriors in their ICL Twenty20 match at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad yesterday.

While the win takes Lahore to the brink of a semifinal berth, Dhaka will be disappointed to have missed out after a promising start to the match.

But it was Naved's day from the off.

After putting in a disciplined bowling performance (3-18), he starred with the bat stroking a sparkling 64 off only 32 balls with half-a-dozen sixes.

He was particularly harsh on left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, peppering him to all corners of the ground as the senior Warrior went for 42 off his four overs.

After Imran Farhat fell early to a good diving catch from Shahriar Nafees, Naved was a surprise choice in the number three slot.

He grabbed the chance with both hands and combined beautifully with Imran Nazir (25 of 15) to effectively take the game away from the Warriors with a stunning assault.

There was even time for Mohammed Yousuf to show signs of his prodigious talent on his debut. The dependable middle-order batsman, so often a mainstay of the Pakistan innings in the past years, made a fine start to his ICL career with three superb boundaries of his first three balls.

And captain Inzamam-ul-Haque made sure of the win in the 17th over guiding his team home with a well-judged unbeaten 27.

Earlier, the Warriors made a good start through Shahriar Nafees (35) and Nazimuddin (20) and had solid contribution from Aftab Ahmed (20).

But for once Alok Kapali did not fire and when Saqlain snared him for 16 it was all downhill for the Warriors, most of whom perished trying to up the ante.

Habibul Bashar played a responsible knock of 17 towards the end to guide Dhaka to 145 but it was to prove ultimately futile as Naved was to prove the star turn of the day.

Bangladesh tour of South Africa 2008

Wed 5 18:00 local, 16:00 GMT	Only Twenty20 International - South Africa v Bangladesh New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Fri 7 14:30 local, 12:30 GMT	1st ODI - South Africa v Bangladesh Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
Sun 9 10:00 local, 08:00 GMT	2nd ODI - South Africa v Bangladesh Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Wed 12 14:30 local, 12:30 GMT	3rd ODI - South Africa v Bangladesh Buffalo Park, East London
Sat 15 - Sun 16 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	South African Airways Challenge XI v Bangladeshis De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Wed 19 - Sun 23 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	1st Test - South Africa v Bangladesh OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein
Wed 26 - Sun 30 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	2nd Test - South Africa v Bangladesh SuperSport Park, Centurion

Nafees powers Warriors

The Dhaka Warriors moved into fourth place in the league and kept their semifinal hopes alive by beating the Chandigarh Lions by eight wickets in Panchkula on Friday night. Shahriar Nafees led Dhaka's charge and his unbeaten 73 ensured that the target of 138 was achieved in the 18th over.

Nafees's task was made easier by Dhaka's bowlers who had backed up their captain Habibul Bashar's decision to field first by restricting Chandigarh to 137 for 9 in 20 overs. After conceding 23 off the first two overs, Dhaka struck three rapid blows that irreparably damaged Chandigarh's innings.

Mohammad Sharif landed the first in the third over when he induced TP Singh to sky a pull to midwicket. Tapash Baisya struck the second, trapping Sarabjit Singh, who was given out after a referral, leg before off the last ball of the fourth over. The very next delivery, an awful mix-up resulted in Lou Vincent being run out without facing a ball. Dhaka had gone from 25 for 0 to 29 for 3 in nine balls.

They continued to lose wickets periodically and though three middle-order batsmen got starts - Chetan Sharma, Andrew Hall and Bipul Sharma scored more than 25 - no one got past 30. Mohammad Rafique was Dhaka's most successful bowler, finishing with 3 for 28.

The target didn't require a slam-bang approach and Dhaka's openers Nafees and Nazimuddin began steadily. They scored only 15 off the first three overs before tucking into Daryl Tuffey: Nazimuddin hit him for fours through cover and midwicket, while Nafees steered one to the third-man boundary. They batted sensibly, finding the boundary every other over while ensuring a steady stream of singles. By the time Nazimuddin fell, sweeping to midwicket in the ninth over, Dhaka had already reached 53. Aftab Ahmed fell soon after, and Nafees who was 33 at the time, became more determined to finish the job.

Nafees found an aggressive partner in Alok Kapali, the ICL's only centurion, and the pair added 76 in quick time to complete the victory. Both batsmen favoured the midwicket region, and sent the ball sailing over the boundary. Kapali raced to 32 off 17 balls and Nafees hit Love Ablish for three fours to improve his strike-rate. The end was emphatic - Kapali pulling the Chandigarh captain Hall to the midwicket boundary to spark off celebrations.

Objection comment to Rob Houwing.

It is true Bangladesh placed 9th position in the ICC Test rankings. And as a test playing nation Bangladesh should play better cricket. You have presented some statistics but you must admit that Bangladesh makes lots of improvement from 1998 to 2008 in ODIs. The Test statistics for Bangladesh is not good. But I cannot understand why you are so eager to strip the test status of Bangladesh. If you want to tell us that most elite Test playing countries have no time to play some cricket against Bangladesh. They can spend their time by playing Stanford 20/20 or IPL and earn more money and glamour. Against Bangladesh there is no glamour. This is so true. If an elite Test playing country looses a match against Bangladesh, I can imagine their embarrassments. And I do not understand why you are so sympathetic for them.

In your article you have repeatedly mentioned "the new world order". And to save the new world order for the purity of the game the maiden (Bangladesh) must be sacrificed. This is a totally facile remark. I am personally very much surprised by this logic. How it is possible such a big problem ("the new world order" jointly created by Modi and Stanford) has such a simple solution?

I am shocked that you want this unholy "the new world order" should rule over cricket. The Cricket spirit lies in Country vs Country not a club vs club. As a sports editor you should promote that thing but unfortunately you lost the rudder and suddenly you discover the land of "the new world order". As a sports editor you should promote cricket. You should not write an article to banish a country from Test arena for the sake of "the new world order". You should personally apologies to call Bangladesh team a “mice”.

The original article is here.

2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 5th Day

The BLACKCAPS have won the two test series in Bangladesh 1-0 after the rain-affected second test petered out to a draw at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

The tourists’ slim hopes of forcing a result lay with forcing the hosts to follow on but the Tigers got past the target of 163 safely, albeit with nine wickets down.

From then on the match was effectively over with only hope for a result being a calamitous batting display second time around from the BLACKCAPS.

But that was not to be despite the early loss of Jamie How (8) who failed to latch on to a pull shot and spooned a ball from Mashrafe Mortaza and was caught by Abdur Razzak at mid on.

However, Aaron Redmond (30 not out) and Jesse Ryder (39 not out) ensured that was not the case to finish on 79-1 when the tedium was brought to a premature end.

Bangladesh had earlier declared on 169 for nine, in reply to the BLACKCAPS’ first innings total of 262 for six declared, after resuming on a precarious 13 for three.

Bangladesh had to overcome a fine bowling display from opposing skipper Daniel Vettori to narrowly avoid being forced to follow on.

Spinner Vettori finished with figures of 5-66, his 19th five-wicket haul in tests, and Iain O'Brien chipped in with three victims for 31 as Bangladesh limped past the target.

All-rounder Skahib Al Hasan (49) and Mashrafe Mortaza (48) provided the bulk of the runs for the home side and shared in a 78-run stand for the seventh wicket to see the Tigers to safety.

Earlier, spinner Jeetan Patel secured the day's first breakthrough, trapping Mehrab Hossain (7) leg before wicket, Vettori got rid of opener Tamim Iqbal and pace bowler O'Brien had Mushfiqur Rahim (7) caught behind by BrendonMcCullum.

After lunch the hosts adopted an aggressive approach to add 65 runs in 10.1 overs but Vettori denied Shakib a test fifty by trapping him leg before to give the spinner his fifth victim. Mortaza adopted the long handle but he had a reprieve when the third umpire ruled a catch had not carried to Ryder in the gully.

The unlucky bowler was O’Brien, but he eventually got his man when Daniel Flynn held a chance in at short leg and he also claimed Shahadat Hossain cheaply to force the declaration.

Vettori was named man of the match and man of the series.

2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 5th Day

The BLACKCAPS have won the two test series in Bangladesh 1-0 after the rain-affected second test petered out to a draw at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

The tourists’ slim hopes of forcing a result lay with forcing the hosts to follow on but the Tigers got past the target of 163 safely, albeit with nine wickets down.

From then on the match was effectively over with only hope for a result being a calamitous batting display second time around from the BLACKCAPS.

But that was not to be despite the early loss of Jamie How (8) who failed to latch on to a pull shot and spooned a ball from Mashrafe Mortaza and was caught by Abdur Razzak at mid on.

However, Aaron Redmond (30 not out) and Jesse Ryder (39 not out) ensured that was not the case to finish on 79-1 when the tedium was brought to a premature end.

Bangladesh had earlier declared on 169 for nine, in reply to the BLACKCAPS’ first innings total of 262 for six declared, after resuming on a precarious 13 for three.

Bangladesh had to overcome a fine bowling display from opposing skipper Daniel Vettori to narrowly avoid being forced to follow on.

Spinner Vettori finished with figures of 5-66, his 19th five-wicket haul in tests, and Iain O'Brien chipped in with three victims for 31 as Bangladesh limped past the target.

All-rounder Skahib Al Hasan (49) and Mashrafe Mortaza (48) provided the bulk of the runs for the home side and shared in a 78-run stand for the seventh wicket to see the Tigers to safety.

Earlier, spinner Jeetan Patel secured the day's first breakthrough, trapping Mehrab Hossain (7) leg before wicket, Vettori got rid of opener Tamim Iqbal and pace bowler O'Brien had Mushfiqur Rahim (7) caught behind by BrendonMcCullum.

After lunch the hosts adopted an aggressive approach to add 65 runs in 10.1 overs but Vettori denied Shakib a test fifty by trapping him leg before to give the spinner his fifth victim. Mortaza adopted the long handle but he had a reprieve when the third umpire ruled a catch had not carried to Ryder in the gully.

The unlucky bowler was O’Brien, but he eventually got his man when Daniel Flynn held a chance in at short leg and he also claimed Shahadat Hossain cheaply to force the declaration.

Vettori was named man of the match and man of the series.