South Africa win second ODI against Australia

South Africa’s Morne Morkel (center left) is congratulated after taking the wicket of Australia’s Mitchell Johnson (not pictured) during their second one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia on Sunday.

South Africa struck back with a vengeance in the second one-day international against Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday, levelling the series with a three-wicket win.

Proteas skipper AB de Villiers had vowed his side would be seeking redemption after being beaten by 32 runs in the series opener on Friday.

His team backed those words with a superb bowling display as the home side were dismissed for just 154 in 41.4 overs on what appeared a good batting wicket.

South Africa overcame some anxious moments and reckless batting to edge to the victory target, reaching 157 for seven in just 27.4 overs.

Paceman Josh Hazlewood was one bright light for the Australians, with career-best figures of 5-31.

Towering paceman Morne Morkel led the way for South Africa with 5-21, his second five-wicket haul in one-day internationals and career-best figures in a man-of-the-match performance.

The South Africans made an impact with the ball from the outset, destroying the Australian top order to have the home side in deep trouble at 34-4.

It was Morkel who struck the first blow with David Warner caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck.

Warner was initially given not out, but replays showed clear contact with the glove and Llong overturned the initial decision.

Stand-in skipper George Bailey and emerging all-rounder Mitchell Marsh raised Australian hopes briefly when they added 58 for the fifth wicket before Bailey was brilliantly caught by a diving du Plessis from the bowling of Vernon Philander (1-16) for 25.

Bailey was captaining Australia in the absence of Michael Clarke, who was ruled out of the remainder of the series with a recurrence of a left hamstring problem during his team’s opening victory.

Marsh was the only Australian batsman to offer significant resistance, compiling 67 from 88 balls.

A contentious third umpire decision helped swing the game firmly back South Africa’s way as Australia’s middle order tried to rally after the poor start.

Australia were 125-5 when Matthew Wade was given not out caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock from the bowling of Morkel, but after lengthy deliberation the decision was overturned.

Morkel struck again without addition of the score, bowling Glenn Maxwell for a duck.

The giant South African quick then removed Mitchell Johnson, caught behind for three, to claim his fifth scalp for the innings as Australia slumped to 129-8.

- AFP, Perth, Australia

Ashraful to return!

Banned cricketer Mohammad Ashraful will return to cricket soon! Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan Papon hinted that after returned to Bangladesh.

Papon took part in the meeting of International Cricket Council (ICC) held at Dubai in United Arab Emirates recently.

The meeting of ICC chaired by Chairman of ICC N Srinivasan took this decision recently.

Mohammad Ashraful has been banned for eight years from all sorts of cricket competitions as he was found guilty for spot-fixing in the last BPL.

Later, Ashraful appealed to Anti-Corruption Tribunal.

Then the Tribunal reduced his punishment to five years from eight years.

Nazmul Hassan said, “Ashraful can play in the domestic cricket. Even he can play in the international cricket competitions like BPL, IPL, CPL, County Cricket Championship. We can not talk to him. Hoping ICC will reconsider his punishment.”

But Ashraful have to wait several years to play in the international cricket matches (Both Test and ODI) for his country.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Ashraful played amateur cricket in USA recently. He used to go gymnasium for fitness. He is trying to make him fit.

- Source: New Nation

Tigers whitewash Zimbabwe

The victorious Bangladesh team players pose for photo after completing a 3-0 whitewash against Zimbabwe at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong on Sunday.

Bangladesh completed a whitewash today in the three-match Test series against Zimbabwe after beating the visitors by a big margin of 186 runs at Chittagong.

Zimbabwe put up a brave fight and managed to bring down the trail below 200 runs after put to chase a target 449 runs in their second innings.

The spinners made the major damage with Jubair Hossain, Shuvagata Hom claiming two wickets each and Mahmudullah and Taijul one apiece.

Rubel Hossain and Shafiul Islam swept the tail enders to seal the whitewash before tea at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Mominul Haque was announced Man of the Match while ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was awarded series best with 251 runs and 18 wickets in three matches.

On day one, Bangladesh piled 303 riding on record-breaking partnership of Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes with both scoring 100 and Tamim his first at his home ground in Chittagong.

On day two, Shakib Al Hasan scored his 16th Test 50 and the tail enders provided an entertaining finish to heave Bangladesh to a first innings total of 503.

On day three, Zimbabwe folded for 374 runs with a maiden Test cricket five-wicket haul for 19-year-old leg spinner Jubair Hossain. Raza, 82, Masakadza, 81, Chakbva, 65, and Chigumbura, 88, each produced significant contributions.

On Day 4, Bangladesh declared at 319/5 with a 488-run lead riding on Mominul’s fourth Test century. The 23-year –old also made it to the top 10 Test run scorers of Bangladesh.

Today, Zimbabwe folded for 262 runs with Sikandar Raza, 65, and Chakbva, 89 not out, made the only solid stand.

This was the first time Bangladesh scored 300+ plus runs in both innings of a Test match. This was also the Tigers’ highest Test total as of yet.

Teams

BangladeshTamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim*, Shakib Al Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Jubair Hossain

ZimbabweSikandar Raza, Brian Chari, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor*, Regis Chakabva, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Natsai M’shangwe, Shingirai Masakadza

Ronaldo claims Euro goals record

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his decisive goal against Armenia at the Estadio Algarve on Friday. The goal made Ronaldo the highest scorer in the history of European competitions. Photo: Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo became the European Championships’ all-time top scorer by giving Portugal a 1-0 victory over Armenia, while Germany could only beat Gibraltar 4-0 as its World Cup victory hangover continued on Friday.

Portugal captain Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute to take his tally across Euro finals and qualifying to 23 goals. Denmark’s Jon Dahl Tomasson and Turkey’s Hakan Sukur had previously scored 22 goals each.

Germany was looking for a high score against Gibraltar, a territory of just 30,000 people which is playing its first qualifying tournament and had already lost 7-0 to both Ireland and Poland in Group D.

However, there were whistles from some fans at full-time after watching the World Cup holders labor against a defensively set-up side made up mostly of amateurs.

Convincing in Brazil during the summer, Germany had been held to a 1-1 draw by Ireland and beaten 2-0 by Poland in its two previous Euro 2016 qualifiers. It also lost 4-2 to Argentina in a friendly repeat of the World Cup final in September.

Elsewhere, Greece slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to the Faeroe Islands and Denmark came from behind to beat Serbia 3-1. There were qualifying wins for Poland, Scotland, Romania and Hungary.

In London, Teofilo ”Teo” Gutierrez headed in a late goal as Colombia came from behind to beat the United States 2-1 in a friendly.

Here’s a roundup of action from Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifying games:

GROUP I

Ronaldo’s winner against Armenia meant Portugal stayed one point behind group leader Denmark. The Real Madrid star struck from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

Nicklas Bendtner scored twice as Denmark came from a goal down to beat Serbia 3-1 in Belgrade. The match was played in an empty Partizan stadium because of incidents in a qualifier between Serbia and Albania last month.

Serbia was penalized by UEFA for pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone.

Serbia winger Zoran Tosic opened the scoring with a low strike from 12 yards (meters) in the fourth minute.

But Bendtner equalized from close range in the 60th before centerback Simon Kjaer gave the visitors the lead two minutes later by heading in a free kick from Christian Eriksen. Bendtner made it 3-1 in the 85th.

France, which has already qualified as the host of Euro 2016, drew 1-1 with Albania in Rennes.

Albania defender Mergim Mavraj stunned the hosts with a header in the 40th. But France substitute Antoine Griezmann salvaged a draw by cutting inside to fire into the bottom corner in the 73rd.

GROUP D

Thomas Mueller scored twice as Germany got its Euro 2016 qualifying campaign back on track with an unconvincing 4-0 win over Gibraltar.

Mueller opened the scoring in the 12th minute and claimed his second 17 minutes later. Mario Goetze made it 3-0 in the 38th, before an own goal from Yogan Santos completed the scoring in the 67th.

Germany coach Joachim Loew said beforehand he wanted a result to reflect his side’s status as the World Cup winners and he started with a very attacking line-up and just three defenders.

The home side dominated the game but found it hard to penetrate the visitors’ stubborn defending, especially in the second half.

Liam Walker almost scored for Gibraltar with an audacious effort from the sideline just before the interval, only to be denied by a great save from Manuel Neuer.

Germany remains three points behind Group D leader Poland, which won 4-0 in Georgia thanks to second half goals from Kamil Glik, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Sebastian Mila and Arkadiusz Milik.

Shaun Maloney’s 75th-minute strike was enough for Scotland to beat Ireland 1-0 in Glasgow, moving the Scots level on points with Ireland and Germany.

GROUP F

Greece continued its disastrous run in qualifying with a humiliating 1-0 defeat to the Faeroe Islands, while Northern Ireland surrendered its lead in Group F to Romania.

The result in Piraeus could well prompt the dismissal of coach Claudio Ranieri, who hasn’t won a game since taking over as Greece coach in the summer and has now lost three straight at home.

The Faeroe Islanders, winning only their third European qualifier in 19 years, celebrated after the four minutes of injury time were up. Several of them in tears as they were clapped by Greek fans at Karaiskaki Stadium.

The remote nation of 50,000 inhabitants is ranked 187th among 208 nations in FIFA, while Greece is ranked 18th.

Joan Edmundsson scored in the 61st minute, firing in a ball that fell favorably in front of Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.

In Bucharest, Romania looked rejuvenated under coach Anghel Iordanescu, returning for his third spell at the national team, fighting hard to beat Northern Ireland 2-0.

Paul Papp scored twice in six minutes in the second half, finally beating goalkeeper Roy Carroll who had been key to his country’s opening run of three wins.

There was a late winner at Budapest’s Groupama Arena, where Hungary’s Zoltan Gera scored in the 84th minute to beat Finland 1-0 and claim third place.