United News of Bangladesh

Rain delayed the start of the third day’s play in the first cricket test between South Africa and Pakistan with no play possible before lunch on Saturday. The entire first session was washed out at SuperSport Park with Pakistan scheduled to resume its second innings at 88-3 – still trailing South Africa by two runs. South Africa has plenty of time left to press its bid for a place in next year’s World Test Championship final. The home team needs to win one of the two test matches against Pakistan for a guaranteed place in next June’s WTC final at Lord’s. South Africa claimed a 90-run first innings lead on the back of half centuries from Aiden Markram and debutant Corbin Bosch, who smashed an unbeaten 81 on a dream debut. Bosch's scintillating knock, which featured 15 fours, was the highest score by a No. 9 batter on debut in test history. Pakistan had been bowled out for 211 as Bosch claimed a wicket with his first ball and finished with impressive figures of 4-63. Paceman Dane Paterson took 5-61 on a wicket where both teams have packed their line-ups with four fast bowlers each, going into the game without a specialist spinner.

Bangladesh women’s national team captain Nigar Sultana and her teammate Murshida Khatun both hit impressive centuries in the second round of the Women’s Bangladesh Cricket League (WBCL). Both matches in this round ended in a draw. Nigar, playing a career-best knock, scored 171 runs, while Murshida was close behind with 170. Their record-breaking partnership helped Central Zone reach a total of 528 for 8 at the Shahid Kamaruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. Dhaka Metro beat Khulna to reach NCL T20 final Resuming their innings at 242 for 2, with Nigar on 64 and Murshida on 122, the duo continued their relentless assault on the East Zone bowlers. The pair shared a 228-run stand for the third wicket before Murshida was trapped LBW by East Zone captain Fahima Khatun for a brilliant 170, which included 23 boundaries off 286 deliveries. Nigar went on to score 171, hitting 18 fours in her 322-ball innings before being dismissed as the seventh wicket. Earlier, East Zone had been bowled out for 354 in their only innings. In another match, national team batter Sobhana Mostary scored a century for North Zone against South Zone. Sobhana remained unbeaten on 118, which included 14 fours and 4 sixes off 146 balls. North Zone declared their second innings at 257 for 5, setting South Zone a target of 276. India beat Bangladesh to win U-19 Women’s Asia Cup final South Zone, however, fell short despite having two sessions to chase down the target. The match ended with South Zone at 232 for 8. Rubaiya Haider, who scored a century in the previous game, was the top scorer for South Zone with 49.

Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell made half centuries in a 105-run sixth wicket partnership to help lead New Zealand to an eight-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday in the first of three T20 internationals. Outstanding bowling at the death also turned the match in New Zealand's favor as Sri Lanka slumped from 121-0 to 164-8 in reply to New Zealand's 172-8. Mitchell made 62 and Bracewell 59 in a partnership lasting only 60 balls, after coming together with New Zealand in trouble at 65-5 when Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Hay with consecutive deliveries in the 10th over. New Zealand's total looked inadequate as Pathum Nissanka made 90 in 60 balls and shared a 121-run opening stand with Kusal Mendis which seemed to have set up Sri Lanka for a comfortable win. Mendis contributed 46 to Sri Lanka's first century opening partnership in T20s in 122 innings over eight years. He was out in the 14th over, an over where Jacob Duffy took three wickets for one run, marking the point at which Sri Lanka's run chase began to unravel. Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Perera were also out in the same over. “They're class batters, particularly those two at the top,” Duffy said. "We know these conditions well with a bit of bounce and swing up top.” Nissanka was dismissed with the total 153-5 in the 19th over and only 20 runs needed for victory. But Sri Lanka went into the match with a long tail and it wasn't able to finish what Nissanka and Kusal Mendis had started. “We're really disappointed about the result and we really should have done better,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said. “I think Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis batted really well and the rest of us, myself included, should take responsibility for this loss.” New Zealand was under pressure for most of the match, stumbling to 32-2 at the end of the power play as Binura Fernando bowled superbly at the top of the innings, finishing with 2-22. Hasaranga then stepped up and took his two important middle-order wickets as New Zealand reached 65-5 by the midpoint of its innings. Mitchell and Bracewell lifted New Zealand to a solid total which was still made to look reachable under the early onslaught from Nissanka and Mendis. But after Duffy's three-wicket burst, Sri Lanka lost its way and the next best score after the opening pair was 8. Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes bowled superbly at the death.

Former Bangladesh captain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, is uncertain for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), said the coach of his team, Sylhet Strikers, who have already started their preparation for the event. Mashrafe is out of public view after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government, of whom he is a member, facing a popular uprising for their increasingly autocratic rule. Sylhet Striker coach Mahmud Emon said that the team would consider Mashrafe's inclusion if he declares himself fit. For now, it’s clear that the former captain is not fit enough to play competitive cricket. “Mashrafe is still in the squad. He's an integral part of this team,” Mahmud said. “His participation depends on how he's feeling and his fitness level. If he's ready to play and the situation is favourable, he will definitely play.” BPL’s 11th season set to kick off December 30 Mashrafe appeared in a competitive cricket match for the last time in April this year. After the change in the political landscape, he not only did not play cricket but was also not seen in public. Despite this, Sylhet Strikers drafted him in October, retaining him for a third consecutive BPL season. Along with fitness concerns, Mashrafe’s BPL participation is also shadowed due to his affiliation with Awami League. After he was drafted by Sylhet Strikers, there were protests in Sylhet. After the protests in July- August that dethroned Awami League, Mashrafe said he “completely failed to meet the expectation of the masses”.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl Saturday in the first Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Bay Oval. New Zealand named wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay, opener Tim Robinson and allrounder Zakary Foukes to play their first international matches at home. Hay debuted against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka last month and Foulkes made his T20 debut in Pakistan in April. Reddy the hero for India with maiden century against Australia in only his 4th test New Zealand is without Kane Williamson and Devon Conway who no longer are contracted to New Zealand Cricket, bowlers Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson who are injured and Finn Allen and Adam Milne who are playing in Australia's Big Bash League. Sri Lanka named an experienced lineup as it attempts to win a white-ball international in New Zealand for the first time. New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay, Mitchell Santner (captain), Matt Henry, Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy. Australia maintains the advantage over India on the 3rd day of the 4th cricket test Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (captain), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara.

India has a new batting hero after 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy showed the poise of a veteran to score his maiden century, leading his team’s comeback against Australia on day three of the fourth test. At stumps on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India (358-9) still trailed Australia (474) by 116 runs on the first innings, but it could have been much worse. Reddy, playing in just his fourth test and batting at No. 8, rescued India from a shaky 221-7, sharing a 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50). The pair fell two runs shy of equaling the record for an eighth-wicket partnership for India versus Australia of 129 which was set by Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2008. Spin-bowling allrounder Sundar offered a difficult chance off the back of his bat to second slip on 18, which was dropped by a diving Steve Smith as Mitchell Starc bowled the first over with the second new ball. But chances were few for Australia’s bowlers. Reddy was unbeaten on 85 at tea, with the score on 326-7. With Reddy on 97, Sundar’s 162-ball knock finally ended when he was caught at slip off the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon (2-88) at 348-8. The patient Sundar struck just one boundary. Reddy played a lofted drive to cover to move to 99 but lost Jasprit Bumrah for a duck, caught at first slip off the bowling for Pat Cummins (3-86), in the following over at 350-9. Australia maintains the advantage over India on the 3rd day of the 4th cricket test The tension was building as Mohammed Siraj survived three deliveries from Cummins, allowing Reddy to seize the moment and make the century in the following over with an on-drive to the boundary, leading to deafening roars from the thousands of India fans in the stands, including his father. Reddy’s hundred came off 171 deliveries and included 10 fours and one six. Only nine more deliveries were bowled before play was delayed and then called off due to bad light and rain, with Reddy unbeaten on 105. Resuming Saturday on 164-5, India had wobbled to 244-7 at lunch, losing the wickets of Rishabh Pant (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (17). Australia’s hopes of quickly skittling India’s tail faded, however, as 82 runs were added without loss in the post-lunch session. Cummins and Scott Boland (3-57) took three wickets each for Australia. Australia’s first-innings total of 474 was highlighted by Steve Smith’s 34th century. Smith’s 140 lifted the 35-year-old to equal-seventh most hundreds in test cricket. The five-match series is level at 1-1 after a rainy draw at Brisbane, The fifth and final test is scheduled to start on January 3 at Sydney.

Australia picked up two wickets in the opening session Saturday to remain in control and leave India wobbling at 244-7 on day three of the fourth test of the five-match series. At lunch Saturday, India trailed Australia by 230 runs on the first innings. Resuming on 164-5, India looked to Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant to show some aggression against Australia’s bowlers. Pant scored an entertaining 28 but took one too many risks. The left-hander was caught on the boundary at 191-6 after top-edging an attempted scoop shot off the bowling of Scott Boland (3-37). Jadeja (17) was lbw to spinner Nathan Lyon at 221-7 with 30 minutes remaining before lunch. Nitish Kumar Reddy scored an unbeaten 40, including three fours and one six, while Washington Sundar was five not out. Australia was dismissed for 474 after lunch on Friday’s second day of play. The formidable total included Steve Smith’s 34th century. Smith’s 140 lifted the 35-year-old to equal-seventh most hundreds in test cricket. Markram leads South Africa to 180-5 in 1st test against Pakistan Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah (4-99) claimed four victims to increase his tally for the series to 25 wickets at an average of 13.12. India reached 153-2 Friday but lost three wickets for six runs in a dramatic collapse. Opener Yashavi Jaiswal (82) and ex-skipper Virat Kohli (36) steadied India’s innings with a 102-run partnership. Jaiswal charged off for a risky single, realizing too late that Kohli had turned his back, leaving Jaiswal stranded alongside Kohli at the non-striker’s end. Boland struck in successive overs to remove Kohli caught behind and Akash Deep (0) caught at leg gully as Australia completely dominated the closing 25 minutes of day two. Kohli has endured a challenging time in the fourth test so far, including the mix-up with Jaiswal and a physical clash with Australia’s 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas. Match referee Andy Pycroft fined Kohli 20% of his match fee for making “inappropriate physical contact” after he bumped shoulders with Konstas at the end of the 10th over of the match. Kohli was booed as he left the field of play Friday, stopping at one stage to walk back and stare down a fan. The five-match series is level at 1-1 after a rainy draw at Brisbane, The fifth and final test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Opening batter Aiden Markram closed in on his eighth test century and led South Africa to 180-5 at lunch on the second day of the first test against Pakistan on Friday. South Africa, which needs to win one of the two test matches against Pakistan to seal a place in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s next year, trails the visitors by 31 on a pitch tailor-made for fast bowlers. Markram was batting on an attractive 81 off 123 balls before Pakistan hit back with two wickets in the latter half of the first session with captain Temba Bavuma (31) and David Bedingham (30) both edging behind the wickets. Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne was yet to score but Markram stood tall in the first session and helped South Africa score 98 runs before lunch for the loss of two wickets. Resuming on 82-3, Markram completed his half century with an exquisite cover driven boundary off Naseem Shah and stretched the fourth-wicket stand to 70 runs with Bavuma before Pakistan got its first breakthrough. Aamer Jamal was rewarded for his persistent length balls to Bavuma as the South African skipper finally got a thick outside edge while going for a loose drive. Bedingham counterattacked from the onset, smashing five boundaries in his 33-ball knock and also survived when Pakistan unsuccessfully went for an lbw television review against Naseem Shah’s full pitched delivery, which television replays suggested would have missed the leg stump. Steve Smith's 34th test century puts Australia in control over India on 2nd day of 4th test However, Naseem didn’t have to wait long as Bedingham was beaten by some extra bounce and nicked it in the first slip in the penultimate over before lunch. Pakistan was dismissed for 211 on Day 1 after Dane Paterson (5-61) grabbed his second successive five-wicket haul and debutant Corbin Bosch claimed 4-63, which included a wicket with his first ball in test cricket.

Both semifinals of the Paragon Group Victory Day Hockey Tournament will be held at the Maulana Bhashani Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday (Dec 28). Bangladesh Navy will play the first semifinal against Hockey Players Welfare Unity at 12:30 PM, while Bangladesh Air Force will face BKSP in the second semifinal at 2:30 PM. Earlier, a brilliant hat-trick by Rakibul Hasan helped Bangladesh Air Force reach the semifinals of the Paragon Group Victory Day Hockey Tournament as Group B champions, defeating Bangladesh Army 6-3 on Thursday. Hockey Players Welfare Unity also secured a place in the last four, advancing from the group stage after edging past Bangladesh Army on goal difference. All three teams in the group finished with three points each, but goal difference—Air Force (+2), Hockey Players Welfare Unity (0), and Bangladesh Army (-2)—decided the group standings. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Navy stormed into the semifinals as the champions of Group A, with a 9-1 victory over Bangladesh Police, while BKSP finished as runners-up in the group to also reach the semifinals.

Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd maintained solo lead with all-win record in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, beating Fortis Football Club by 1-0 goal at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Friday afternoon. Nigerian forward Emmanuel Sunday scored the match winning goal for the traditional black and whites Mohammedans in the 17th minute by a placing shot, off an Ernest Boateng cross (1-0). Despite the absence of their captain, Mali striker Souleymane Diabate, Mohammedan maintained their winning run in the league after beating Bashundhara Kings and Dhaka Abahani. With the day's 5th consecutive win, Mohammedan SC comfortably dominated the league table securing full 15 points from straight five matches while Fortis SC remained at the 7th slot with five points from five matches. After the fourth-round matches, Rahmatganj MFS and six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited were in distant 2nd securing nine points each, Brothers Union Club in the 4th place with seven points, while defending champions Bashundhara Kings struggling at the 5th place with six points. In the day's other match, Dhaka Wanderers Club defeated Chittagong Abahani Limited by a solitary goal at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur Friday afternoon. Midfielder Shakil Ali netted the match decider for the old horse Dhaka Wanderers Club in the 42nd minute (1-0). With the day's maiden victory, Dhaka Wanderers Club advanced to the 8th slot in the 10-team fray securing four points from five matches while Chittagong Abahani struggling at the bottom without any point playing five matches.