United News of Bangladesh

India’s superstar seamer Jasprit Bumrah was at his unplayable best at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Sunday, claiming 4-56 including his 200th wicket in a breathtaking performance in the fourth test against Australia. Bumrah dominated Australia’s middle order, removing Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey cheaply before the home side’s tail wagged, reaching 228-9 at stumps, with one day of play remaining. Australia leads by 333 runs. Earlier, Australia lost four wickets for 11 runs in 22 deliveries, slumping from 80-2 to 91-6 in a dramatic middle-order collapse after lunch. But the home side rallied thanks to a 57-run partnership between Marnus Labuschagne (70) and Pat Cummins (41). India resumed Sunday on 358-9 and was bowled out for 369 in reply to the home side’s 474. Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 114. It was the 21-year-old’s maiden century in his fourth test. Cummins (3-89), Scott Boland (3-57) and spinner Nathan Lyon (3-96) took three wickets each. Reddy said to have family and friends including his father Mutyala watching on when he scored his maiden test century was a special moment. “That was a special century for me and for my father,” Reddy said. “When I was nothing, the first person who believed in me was my father. He believed in me and he resigned his job for me. “He made a lot of sacrifices. I’m so grateful to have a father like him.” Australia edged slowly to 53-2 off 25 overs in its second innings at lunch Sunday on a pitch that continued to offer sideways movement. Openers Sam Kontas (eight) and Usman Khawaja (21) departed before lunch. Mohammed Siraj (3-66) triggered a collapse by removing first-innings century-maker Steve Smith caught behind for 13 at 80-3. In the next over, Bumrah broke through twice. The 31-year-old claimed his 200th wicket, removing Head caught at forward-square leg for one, and Marsh was caught behind four balls later for a duck. The 44-test capped Bumrah claimed his fourth wicket of the innings when he bowled Carey (2) in his next over as Australia staggered to 91-6. Labuschagne described the bowling of Bumrah, who has taken 29 wickets in the series at an average of 13.24, as “relentless”. “He just bowls a relentless length. He attacks the stumps. He’s tough to navigate,” Labuschagne said. “He was hot. He had three wickets in two overs. He’s been very good this series.” Yashavi Jaiswal missed three catches in the field, including dropping Labuschagne at gully on 46, and Cummins on 21 at silly point. Australia regained its composure, pushing its lead beyond 250, before Siraj trapped Labuschagne lbw at 148-7. Mitchell Starc (5) was run out shortly after tea at 156-8. Cummins was caught at slip 17 runs later, but India fumbled a fourth chance when Siraj put down a caught-and-bowled chance when Lyon was on five. Lyon (41 not out) and Boland (10 not out) added to India’s frustrations with an unbeaten 55-run partnership for the final wicket. Bumrah had Lyon caught in slips on 35 in the final over of the day, but it was a no-ball. The highest successful run-chase in a test match since 2000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is Australia’s 231-2 in 2013/2014 against England. Reddy said it would be important to have “one or two good partnerships” to give India a chance of victory. “We can see later on the fourth day the pitch was doing a little bit more,” Reddy said. “We don’t need to put more pressure (on ourselves) by saying the pitch is doing this or that.” The five-match series is level at 1-1. The fifth and final Australia-India test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

South Africa tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen hung in against relentless fast bowler Mohammad Abbas for a tense two-wicket win in the first test on Sunday to seal the Proteas' place in next year’s World Test Championship final. Jansen (16 not out) overshadowed Abbas’ brilliant figures of 6-54 with a square driven boundary against the fast bowler as South Africa reached 150-8 just after lunch on Day 4 and escaped with a close win in the opener of the two-match series. “Quite an emotional moment for me, good advert for test cricket,” said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who made 40. “We haven’t been ruthless but have found a way to ensure the result was on our side. Lot of joy and happiness on our side, a bit of a rollercoaster, glad that we were able to get the result.” Abbas, making a comeback after more than three years in the test wilderness, had knocked back South Africa’s tricky chase of 148 runs in a marathon 13-over spell before lunch on Day 4 as the home team limped to 99-8, losing four wickets for three runs. Australia lose openers but stretch lead to 158 runs at lunch, day 4 of 4th test against India However, Rabada changed gears in an unbroken 51-run stand with Jansen and made an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls with five fours to seal a memorable victory and denied Pakistan its first test win in South Africa in almost 18 years. South Africa had started this WTC cycle with a 1-1 drawn series against India before getting swept 2-0 in New Zealand. But since then the Proteas have beaten West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to stay on top of the table. “It (WTC final) is a big one, not just for myself but also the team and the coach," Bavuma said. "The way we started our campaign, against India and then New Zealand with a not-so-strong team, and the way we have gone through with our performances, not many gave us a chance.” India, Australia and Sri Lanka are the other teams still in contention for next June’s WTC final against South Africa at Lord’s. Captain Temba Bavuma (40) and Aiden Markram (37) had thwarted Abbas for an hour after South Africa resumed at a wobbly 27-3, still needing 121 for victory. Bavuma’s controversial dismissal punctuated a South Africa collapse in the latter half of first session with Abbas grabbing three off his six balls in a sensational home team collapse. Bavuma, who made 40, surprisingly didn’t request a television review when replays suggested that Abbas’ ball had brushed the batter’s pocket and didn’t make contact with the inside edge of the bat but the South African skipper walked back to the dressing room. Abbas bowled an unchanged marathon spell of 13 overs, but had to wait as Markram and Bavuma saw off eight overs from the fast bowlers. Resuming at 27-3, Bavuma and Markram showed plenty of patience against Abbas’ probing line and length before the fast bowler finally got the breakthrough after the first drinks break. Abbas was rewarded for his brilliant seam bowling when he beat the outside edge of Markram’s bat and knocked back the off stump. Rain washes out first session on Day 3 of 1st test between South Africa and Pakistan Bavuma survived a couple of close chances when he successfully overturned an on-field lbw decision against him early in the day and Naseem Shah couldn’t hold onto a sharp catch at fine leg as he overstepped the boundary cushion while grabbing the ball over his head. South Africa had controlled the game at 96-4 before Bavuma’s dismissal saw Abbas finding the outside edges of David Bedingham (14) and Corbin Bosch’s (0) bat off successive deliveries and in between Kyle Verreynne dragged Naseem Shah’s delivery back onto his stumps. Abbas found the outside edge of Rabada's bat in his first over after lunch that fell just short of wicketkeeper Rizwan before both tailenders took the team home. “Extremely proud of the efforts, but going forward we need to be ruthless,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said. “We keep making the same mistakes but we have to get over the line, seize moments.” The second test begins at Cape Town on Friday.

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) organisers have announced free water services for the fans at all the venues in Dhaka, Sylhet and Chattogram.  This is the first time when the BPL organisers are taking this initiative in BPL.  Organisers said  there will be Mugdho Corners at the gallery, where fans can drink free water thanks to BCB’s drinking partner Pusti.  Those designated areas are named after Mir Mugdho, a man who was killed during the July- August uprising that ousted the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina.  How to get your BPL tickets: online platform and bank branches open for sales The announcement was made during an event to introduce the tournament's official drinking partner on Sunday.   Similar “Mugdho Corners” will also be installed at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium and the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, confirmed BPL Member Secretary Nazmul Abedin. BPL will kick off with the match between Fortune Barishal, the defending champions and newcomer, Durbar Rajshhai, at 1:30 PM on Monday. On the other match of the opening day, Dhaka Capital will take on Rangpur Riders at 7:00 PM at the same venue. 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) started selling tickets for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) following a demonstration by hundreds of eager fans outside the venue— Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium— on Sunday afternoon. Fans can purchase tickets either online or in person, with sales already underway from Sunday at different places close to the venue. For online buyers, tickets can be accessed through the official website (www.gobcbticket.com.bd). Hard copies of tickets are being sold at designated Modhumoti Bank PLC branches. On Sunday, tickets were made available between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. On Monday, the opening day of BPL, sales will continue from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The branches facilitating sales include those located in Mirpur, Motijheel, Uttara, Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Kamrangir Char, and on VIP Road in Paltan. Fans are advised to visit the branch closest to them during the specified hours. The price of the tickets varies based on seating categories. Premium seats at the Grand Stand, both lower and upper levels, will cost BDT 2,000. Tickets for the International Gallery North (Media Block) and International Lounge South (Corporate Block) are available for BDT 1,000, while seats in the International Gallery South (Corporate Block) are priced at BDT 800. The Club House stands, both North and South, are available at BDT 500, and for Southern or Northern Galleries, tickets are priced at BDT 300, while most affordable tickets are at Eastern Gallery which costs BDT 200. For the first time, BCB designated an area as a “Zero Waste Zone”, where around 300 seats are available for BDT 600 each. BPL will kick off with the match between Fortune Barishal, the defending champions and newcomer, Durbar Rajshhai, at 1:30 PM on Monday. On the other match of the opening day, Dhaka Capital will take on Rangpur Riders at 7:00 PM at the same venue.  

Australia claimed a lead of 105 runs on the first innings and stretched its advantage to 158 at lunch Sunday on day four of the fourth cricket test against India. After bowling India out for 369 in reply to the home side’s 474 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia was 53-2 in its second innings at lunch Sunday on a pitch that continued to offer sideways movement for India’s crafty seamers Jasprit Bumrah (1-18 off eight overs) and Mohammed Siraj (1-10 off seven). Resuming on 358-9, India added 11 runs in 3.3 overs before Nitish Kumar Reddy (114) holed out to long-off off the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon (3-96). The 21-year-old Reddy added nine runs to his overnight score of 105 before he was the tenth wicket to fall. India was bowled out for 369, trailing Australia by 105 runs on the first innings. Reddy, whose innings included 11 fours and one six, had celebrated with gusto in front of an adoring crowd of over 83,000 Saturday after reaching his century in a tense finale to the day’s play with nine wickets down. Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc sent down 25 wicketless overs for 89 runs and is carrying what appears a rib complaint, which may place strain on Australia’s attack during India’s second innings. Pace bowlers Pat Cummins (3-89) and Scott Boland (3-57) took three wickets each in India’s first innings. Australia’s opening batter Sam Konstas, whose debut innings of 60 included six fours and two sixes in an audacious display of shot-making, fell for eight. The 19-year-old had no answer to a probing delivery from Bumrah which crashed into the stumps via a gap between bat and pad with the hosts at 20-1. Dropped on two at leg gully off Bumrah’s bowling, opener Usman Khawaja continued to struggle and was bowled by an inswinger from Siraj for 21 to reduce Australia to 43-2. Marnus Labuschagne was hit several times on the thigh and groin as he scrapped his way to an unbeaten 20 off 46 deliveries and Steve Smith was two not out off 21 balls. Australia’s 53 came off 25 overs in what was hardly a free-flowing opening session of play for the batting side. The five-match series is level at 1-1. The fifth and final Australia-India test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Bangladesh women’s national team captain Nigar Sultana and her teammate Murshida Khatun hit centuries in the second round of the Women's Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL). Both the matches of this round ended in a draw. Nigar scored her career-best 171, while Murshida ended on 170. Riding on the record-breaking stand between Nigar and Murshida, Central Zone piled up a total of 528 for eight wickets at the Shahid Kamaruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. Resuming on 242 for 2, with Nigar on 64 and Murshida on 122, the pair continued their relentless assault on the East Zone bowlers. Their 228-run stand for the third wicket finally came to an end when Murshida was trapped LBW by East Zone captain Fahima Khatun for a brilliant 170, with 23 boundaries off 286 deliveries. Nigar carried on to reach 171, smashing 18 fours in her 322-ball innings before becoming the seventh wicket to fall. East Zone had earlier been bowled out for 354 in their only innings. Sobhana Mostary, the national team batter, also notched a century, leading North Zone against South Zone. She remained unbeaten on 118, hitting 14 fours and 4 sixes in her 146-ball knock. North Zone declared their second innings at 257 for 5, setting South Zone a target of 276. Despite having two sessions to chase down the target, South Zone fell short, finishing on 232 for 8 when the match concluded. Rubaiya Haider, who had scored a century in the previous game, top-scored for South Zone with 49.

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”.