Bangladesh beats Sri Lanka by five wickets

All rounder Shakib Al Hasan hit an unbeaten 92 to guide Bangladesh to a comfortable five-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Wednesday and a place in the final of their triangular one-day series.

Bangladesh had to win with considerable margin to get a place in the final at the expense of Zimbabwe, and reached the 148-run target with seven overs to spare in a match reduced to 31 overs per side.

Hasan's impressive knock of 92 from 69 balls with 10 fours and two sixes rescued the hosts from early trouble, having slipped to 11-3.

Both openers Junaid Siddique (0) and Tamim Iqbal (9) were run out, while Thilan Thushara had Mushfiqur Rahim (1) caught behind.

Al Hasan and captain Mohammad Ashraful put on 91 runs for the fourth wicket in a stand that turned the course of the match.

Nuwan Kulasekara broke the partnership when Ashraful (26) tried his favorite hook shot and was caught near the boundary by Sanath Jayasuriya. Ajantha Mendis then dismissed Raqibul Hasan (3) cheaply, putting the match back in the balance with Bangladesh on 126-5.

Hasan and Naeem Islam (12) reached the winning target, with Islam hitting a four and then a six off the final two balls, giving Bangladesh a bonus point to overhaul Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will meet again in Friday's final.

Earlier, a strong bowling performance, highlighted by four wickets on debut by 19-year-old seamer Rubel Hossain, justified Bangladesh's decision to send Sri Lanka in to bat after winning the toss.

After the start was delayed by more than three hours by fog, reducing the contest to 31 overs per side, Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya hit a half century but the visitors' innings fell apart late, losing their last five wickets for just 23 runs.

Sri Lanka was in trouble early, stumbling to 4-2 after opening bowler Mashrafe bin Mortaza struck early, trapping opener Upul Tharanga lbw and then bowling Kumar Sangakkara, both for ducks.

But Jayasuriya took up the reins with captain Mahela Jayawardene, adding 71 runs for the third wicket before Islam had the skipper caught at midwicket on 28.

Jayasuriya (54), partnered by Chamara Kapugedara, lifted the score to 95 before being caught and bowled by Mortaza, who returned figures of 3-25 in his allotted seven overs. Jayasuriya's 67th one-day fifty came off 61 balls and included six boundaries.

Sri Lanka lost the next three middle-order wickets for just six runs.

Rookie Hossain, 19, got his first international wicket when he dismissed Angelo Mathews (2), after Jehan Mubarak was run out on 10.

The visitors were reduced to 130-7 when Mahbubul Alam bowled Kapugedera (28).

Hossain then dismissed Nuwan Kulasekara (5), had Thilan Thushara (0) caught behind and took the last wicket of Ajantha Mendis (0) with three balls unused, to end up with 4-33 on his international debut.

Al Hasan inspires Tigers
SkySports

Hasan batting blitz sees Bangladesh stun Sri Lanka
AFP

Bangladesh storm into final
Bangladesh News 24 hours

It was my best innings: Shakib
Bangladesh News 24 hours

Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets
The Daily Star, Bangladesh

Zimbabwe 205-9 beat Bangladesh 167 by 38 runs

Elton Chigumbura led the way with a vital fifty as Zimbabwe defeated hosts Bangladesh by 38 runs in the first match of the three-team tournament.

Chigumbura hit a patient 64 to steer the tourists to 205-9, while Shakib Al Hasan claimed 3-23 and Naeem Islam took 3-32 for the hosts.

The Tigers slumped to 33-4 before Shakib scored a defiant 52 but the hosts were dismissed for 167.

Bangladesh now have to beat Sri Lanka to stay in contention for a final spot.

Chigumbura's 64 came off 95 deliveries and contained five boundaries, while captain Prosper Utseya claimed 2-22 for the tourists.

The second match of the series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe takes place in Mirpur on Monday.

ICL to close shop?

This could well be biggest development of 2009. The rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) is all set to be wound up, if the rumour mills are anything to go by. The buzz in the Indian cricket circles is that by the second week of January, the first signs of a rapproachment between the ICL and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to emerge.

This follows a meeting held in New Delhi between the International Cricket Council (ICC) president David Morgan and vice-president Sharad Pawar with senior ICL officials including its chairman Subhash Chandra. Pawar, a former BCCI president is now leading the talks on behalf both India and also the ICC. The sum total of the discussions is likely to result in ICL being winding up and the ban on the players joining the league being lifted.

Also likely to go is the ban on Zee bidding for TV rights held by the BCCI. But the biggest development is likely to be the fact that ICL will be allowed to buy one team in BCCI's own Indian Premier League (IPL).

ICC on its part too likely to send a list of guidelines for ICL for it be integrated in the mainstream. All said, sources within the ICL and the BCCI claim that a major announcement is likely on January 31 when the ICC executive board meeting sits in Perth.

http://www.cricketnirvana.com/truth-gossip/2009/January/truth-gossip-20090102-2.html

Bangladesh Tri-Series 2008-09

1st Match - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
10 Jan - Mirpur

2nd Match - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
12 Jan - Mirpur

3rd Match - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
14 Jan - Mirpur

Final - TBC v TBC
16 Jan - Mirpur

Ashraful, Mushfiqur handed fines

Tigers captain Mohammad Ashraful and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim have both been fined for excessive appealing during the third day's play of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka.

Ashraful has been fined 15 per cent of his match fees while Mushfiqur was docked 50 per cent of his remunerations.

According to an ICC media release, the pair were handed the punishment by match referee Jeff Crowe following hearings which were held in Chittagong on Tuesday after the match. The on field umpires Steve Bucknor and Nigel Llong, third umpire Nadir Shah and fourth umpire Anisur Rahman laid the charges.

Ashraful was found to have breached Level 1.5 of the ICC code of conduct that relates to "excessive appealing" while Mushfiqur was found guilty of a charge under Level 2.5 that deals with "charging or advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing".

The incident happened in the Sri Lanka second innings when an appeal off Mehrab Hossain's bowling was turned down.

During the second Test, the match referee also spoke to Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes following similar conduct.

The players charged, as well as Bangladesh manager Shafiqul Haque, coach Jamie Siddons and the four umpires attended the hearing.

Sri Lanka beats Bangladesh by 465

Sri Lanka won the second cricket Test against Bangladesh by 465 runs Tuesday - the fifth-largest winning run margin in Test history - taking the series 2-0 after all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan claimed four wickets to add to his century in each innings.

Dilshan, who scored 162 and 143 with the bat, took 4-10 in 4.2 overs to help dismiss Bangladesh for 158 after a 92-run sixth-wicket stand between Mushfiqur Rahim (43) and Shakib Al Hasan (46) took the hosts to 144-6 in the unlikely pursuit of 624 to win.

Al Hasan was stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene off Dilshan, who then trapped Mehrab Hossain lbw for 5, had Mashrafe bin Mortaza caught behind for 0 and then bowled Shahadat Hossain for 1 at Chittagong Divisional Stadium.

Earlier, Sri Lanka declared on 447-6 at lunch with Thilan Samaraweera (77) and Chamara Kapugedera (59 not out) scoring half-centuries and add to Dilshan's hundred and Kumar Sangakkara's 54.

Bangladesh had lost both opening batsmen by the time the score was 22. Unorthodox finger spinner Ajantha Mendis had Imrul Kayes caught at first slip by Mahela Jayawardene for five and Tamim Iqbal was caught behind for 17 off Chaminda Vaas.

Mendis dismissed Junaid Siddique lbw for four before having Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful caught behind for seven and ultimately finished with figures of 3-57. Dilhara Fernando then bowled Raqibul Hasan for 10 to leave the hosts at 52-5.

Sri Lanka had resumed the day on 296-4 and Al Hasan made an early breakthrough for Bangladesh, trapping Samaraweera lbw to end his 145-run partnership with Dilshan.

Dilshan then batted with Kapugedara to complete his seventh Test century before being bowled by Enamul Haque for 143. Dilshan's hundred came off 130 balls and included 11 boundaries.

Ashraful took 2-56, while Haque had figures of 2-109.

Sri Lanka won the first Test in Dhaka by 107 runs.

Zimbabwe cricket team arrives in 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.

News of the assosiate members

Read this news from here:
Two up, four down
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/review2008/content/current/story/384413.html

Mortaza's defiance: Bangladesh avoid follow on

Mashrafe Mortaza launches the ball into orbit, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Chittagong, 2nd day, January 4, 2009

2nd Day
Bangladesh tailender Mashrafe bin Mortaza hit a remarkable half century on Sunday to steer the hosts away from a follow-on, but Sri Lanka still finished day two of the second Test in a commanding position.

Sri Lanka was bowled out for 384 early Saturday and was in a prime position to enforce the follow-on when Bangladesh slid to 145-9 in reply.

However Mortaza (63) and No. 11 Shahadat Hossain put on 63 runs for the final wicket - of which Hossain contributed just five - to avoid the follow-on.

At stumps, Sri Lanka was 13-0 in its second innings.

Bangladesh started the day promisingly, taking the last four Sri Lanka wickets for only eight runs within 25 of the start of play, but their batting followed the pattern of the first Test, getting starts but being unable to form any good partnerships.

Sri Lanka paceman Chaminda Vaas (2-21) got opener Tamim Iqbal (0) caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardene without a run on the board and then trapped Imrul Kayes (6) lbw. Spinner Ajantha Mendis removed Raqibal Hasan for a duck to have the home side at 33-3.

Junaid Siddique and captain Mohammad Ashraful put on 32 runs for the fourth wicket before Dilhara Fernando bowled Siddique (28).

Bangladesh slumped to 90-6 after Mendis claimed lbw wickets with successive balls, removing Mehrab Hossain (18) and Shakib Al Hasan (0).

Ashraful (45)and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim raised the score to 122 when the captain was caught behind off Muttiah Muralitharan.

After tea, Rahim (21) was next to go, stumped by his counterpart Jayawardene off Mendis. Then Muralitharan had Enamul Haque (4) caught behind and Bangladesh looked condemned to a follow-on.

However Mortaza then took over, with his spirited 63 coming off 89 balls with eight fours and two sixes. He was caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan off Muralitharan trying for another big hit.

It was the first Test half-century for Mortaza, who finished with 3-58 with the ball.

Mendis returned figures of 4-71, and his spin partner Muralitharan took 3-62

Sri Lanka strike back as Bangladesh struggle
Daily Nation, Kenya

Sri Lanka on top in Test despite Mortaza's defiance
AFP

Mortaza believes comeback still possible
CricInfo.com, UK

Sri Lanka leave Test rivals in a spin
CNN International

Bangladesh avoid follow on but Sri Lanka on top
Reuters India, India

Carrom Ball

Dilshan leads Sri Lanka

1st Day
Tillakratne Dilshan hit an unbeaten 95 to take Sri Lanka to 229-5 at tea on the opening day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh here on Saturday.

The middle-order batsman smashed two sixes and 14 fours in his entertaining 81-ball knock to steady the visitors, tottering at 75-4 after skipper Mahela Jayawardene elected to bat.

Dilshan also shared a 119-run stand for the fifth wicket with opener Malinda Warnapura (63) to lead a remarkable fightback by the visitors.

Warnapura hit six fours in his patient 151-ball effort before being trapped leg-before by part-time spinner Mohammad Ashraful.

The Bangladeshi bowlers struggled for most part of the afternoon as they took just one wicket, that of Thilan Samarweera (19), while conceding 163 runs off 30 overs.

Samarweera inside-edged a Shahadat Hossain delivery on to his stumps to squander a good start.

Hossain, however, was severely punished by Dilshan who smashed one six and three fours in one over by the paceman.

Dilshan also enjoyed a slice of luck when he was dropped on 82 off Mehrab Hossain, with Junaid Siddique grassing a catch at first slip.

Earlier paceman Mashrafe Mortaza picked two wickets in his first two overs to make early inroads into the Sri Lankan batting line-up.

Mortaza trapped opener Prasanna Jayawardene leg-before for no score before removing Kumar Sangakkara (five), who played the delivery on to his stumps.

The hosts then earned the big wicket of the Sri Lanka captain when Shakib Al Hasan induced a thin edge which was caught by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Jayawardene, playing his 100th Test, made 11 off 46 balls with one four.

Twenty20 threatening Bangladesh Test status

Bangladesh could find their Test status is removed as other nations look to create space for Twenty20 in the calendar.

Complaints about the Bangladeshis' on-field performances have been a regular theme of the last eight years, but it is financial logic that has now led the leading cricket powers to turn against them.

With a growing number of Twenty20 tournaments competing for space in the calendar, teams like England and Australia are no longer prepared to play loss-making series against a team that has failed to improve since their inaugural Test in November 2000. Bangladesh's overall record now stands at one win (against Zimbabwe) from 58 matches.

"There is no reason why a team should have to play Test matches just because it is a full member of the International Cricket Council," said ICC president David Morgan. "If a team is not gaining anything from the experience, then perhaps it might be better to settle for one-day international status."

Bangladesh's future will be discussed at the ICC executive board meeting in Perth at the end of January. They will receive little support from James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, who told Telegraph Sport this week that he believes Bangladesh are driving down the quality of international cricket at a time when it is especially important to maintain high standards.

"With the growth in the Twenty20 market, it is important to take the clutter out of the game," said Sutherland. "We need to make sure we are playing cricket for quality's sake, not for quantity, and in recent times I'm not sure that the quality has always been there.

"The Bangladesh team that came here this year performed far worse than the previous team, which toured in 2003. It's a difficult balancing act, you want to help them develop, but we lost a lot of money hosting them and I don't think their presence is doing anything for the game."

Even one-day series – such as the one played in Australia in August and September – could become difficult for the Bangladesh Cricket Board to organise in the current climate. England, who are due to host two Tests against the Bangladeshis at the start of the 2010 summer, are especially keen to find some replacements who might be more commercially viable.

Bangladesh may be the seventh-most populous country in the world, but their development system has failed to produce any convincing international players for several years now. They have also been weakened by a spate of recent defections to the Indian Cricket League, including that of former captain Habibul Bashar.

Despite a late rally against Sri Lanka last week, which saw them fall only 107 runs short of a target of 521, Bangladesh's Test side are living on borrowed time.

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/bangladesh/4075107/Twenty20-threatening-Bangladesh-Test-status.html

Twenty20 threatening Bangladesh Test status

Bangladesh could find their Test status is removed as other nations look to create space for Twenty20 in the calendar.

Complaints about the Bangladeshis' on-field performances have been a regular theme of the last eight years, but it is financial logic that has now led the leading cricket powers to turn against them.

With a growing number of Twenty20 tournaments competing for space in the calendar, teams like England and Australia are no longer prepared to play loss-making series against a team that has failed to improve since their inaugural Test in November 2000. Bangladesh's overall record now stands at one win (against Zimbabwe) from 58 matches.

"There is no reason why a team should have to play Test matches just because it is a full member of the International Cricket Council," said ICC president David Morgan. "If a team is not gaining anything from the experience, then perhaps it might be better to settle for one-day international status."

Bangladesh's future will be discussed at the ICC executive board meeting in Perth at the end of January. They will receive little support from James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, who told Telegraph Sport this week that he believes Bangladesh are driving down the quality of international cricket at a time when it is especially important to maintain high standards.

"With the growth in the Twenty20 market, it is important to take the clutter out of the game," said Sutherland. "We need to make sure we are playing cricket for quality's sake, not for quantity, and in recent times I'm not sure that the quality has always been there.

"The Bangladesh team that came here this year performed far worse than the previous team, which toured in 2003. It's a difficult balancing act, you want to help them develop, but we lost a lot of money hosting them and I don't think their presence is doing anything for the game."

Even one-day series – such as the one played in Australia in August and September – could become difficult for the Bangladesh Cricket Board to organise in the current climate. England, who are due to host two Tests against the Bangladeshis at the start of the 2010 summer, are especially keen to find some replacements who might be more commercially viable.

Bangladesh may be the seventh-most populous country in the world, but their development system has failed to produce any convincing international players for several years now. They have also been weakened by a spate of recent defections to the Indian Cricket League, including that of former captain Habibul Bashar.

Despite a late rally against Sri Lanka last week, which saw them fall only 107 runs short of a target of 521, Bangladesh's Test side are living on borrowed time.

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/bangladesh/4075107/Twenty20-threatening-Bangladesh-Test-status.html

South Africa Seals First Test Cricket Series Win in Australia

South Africa clinched an historic Test series win in Australia to leave the Baggy Greens facing an uncertain future after years of domination.

Fresh from their series defeat in India, Ricky Ponting's Aussies were expected to return to the routine of smashing opponents around on home turf – notwithstanding the talent of the current South Africa side.

A 2-0 series win against New Zealand had the train back on the rails before the arrival of Graeme Smith's saboteurs, with two gutsy fightbacks by the Proteas in each of the two Tests so far have leaving the hosts with some hard questions before their Ashes tour of England in the summer.

Hashim Amla hit the winning runs on Tuesday as the tourists reached their target of 183 to win by a massive nine wickets.

Captain Smith stroked 75 before falling just before lunch as Neil McKenzie, with 59 not out, and Amla saw South Africa home.

Dale Steyn, who took five wickets in the Aussies' second innings and hit 76 in South Africa's first, was voted man-of-the-match.

Ponting must deal with the reality of becoming the first captain in 16 years to cede a series defeat at home, while question marks hang over the futures of batsmen Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey – giants of their craft currently going through torrid spells.

Where paceman Brett Lee used to provide the support for Glenn McGrath in the attack, he now holds the cutting edge without which his own support bowlers look lacking.

And after Jason Krejza's promising start in India, it now looks like there will be a long, hard search for a replacement capable of hitting half the heights of spin legend Shane Warne.

Ponting said there were few positives to be taken from his side's performances.

"South Africa have outplayed us in all the big moments of these two Test matches," he said. "There are some positives there for us, but not many. This is a series win for them that's well-deserved." The sides now travel to Sydney for the third and final Test, with Australia needing to turn their big starts into a win. They had set South Africa a huge run chase of 414 in the first match in Perth, only to see their opponents whittle it down with little fuss. And on day two at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground the tourists were 198-7, almost 200 runs behind Australia, before Steyn and rookie Duminy shared an incredible ninth-wicket partnership of 180 to get the Proteas back in the match.