Mohammad Ashraful

ASHRAFUL...118 not out

Mohammad Ashraful shone with both ball and bat to lead his Bangladesh A side to a six-wicket victory against South Africa A on Tuesday night at Buffalo Park in East London, in the first of five unofficial ODIs.

Only ten days ago South Africa had been battering Bangladesh in a four-day match, and in their home conditions were firm favourites to dominate the 50-over matches as well. However, the experienced Ashraful, who has alone played more one-day internationals than the entire South Africa A side combined, took 3 for 27 with his part-time spin to restrict South Africa to 226, and then scored an unbeaten century to help his side chase the target in 43.3 overs.

The target started looking steep for Bangladesh when they found themselves 40 for 3 in the 12th over. Ashraful, coming in at No 5, was watchful early on, taking 28 balls before striking his first boundary. He had reached 21 off 44 before he suddenly exploded with Bangladesh at 84 for 3 in the 23rd over. Ashraful hit the next six balls he faced for boundaries, and Bangladesh seized control of the chase. Ashraful continued to attack in bursts, with Junaed Siddiqui rotating the strike at the other end.

The two put together 149 before Siddiqui fell for 60, but by then the game was Bangladesh's to lose. Ashraful reached his century soon after Siddiqui's dismissal, and then ended the game with two consecutive boundaries in the 44th over, finishing 118 not out off 99 balls. It was a significant performance from a man who was once considered the future of Bangladesh cricket, but has now found himself relegated to the A team.

Earlier, Ashraful put South Africa A in to bat and after his frontline bowlers couldn't get an early wicket, it fell to him to come on in the 10th over and dismiss his opposing captain Jacques Rudolph. Ashraful struck twice more in a seven-over spell, leaving South Africa reeling at 52 for 3. Things got worse for the hosts as Farhaan Behardien was bowled by left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, Vaughn van Jaarsveld was run out, and Heino Kuhn was caught trying to drive 19-year-old off-spinner Nasir Hossain. At 73 for 6, South Africa looked like they would struggle to get 150.

There was a recovery though; Dean Elgar, fresh from his 169 not out in the rain-affected second four-day game between the two sides, put together a 121-run partnership with allrounder Vernon Philander. The two batted until the 49th over, when Elgar fell for 76. Philander then hit three consecutive sixes off Farhad Reza in the same over, and South Africa took another 11 runs off the 50th to finish with a fighting total of 226 for 8. Philander finished 79 not out.

Sachin Tendulkar

India batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar said Monday he had no plans to retire after his World Cup triumph, but said the team would miss outgoing coach Gary Kirsten.
India regained the World Cup after 28 years with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the in Mumbai on Saturday under former South African batsman Kirsten.
"Personally, I would say Gary [Kirsten] should continue but he has family commitments," Tendulkar told the NDTV.
"I respect his decision. We will miss him a lot. It's been a pleasure to work with him. He's probably worked harder than anyone else."
India not only secured the number-one ranking in Tests and number two in one-day internationals under Kirsten, but also became a formidable force both at home and away.
Tendulkar, the world's leading run-scorer in both Tests (14,692) and one-day internationals (18,111), became a World Cup winner for the first time on his sixth and probably last appearance in the tournament.
He said winning the World Cup was his biggest cricketing moment and wished he could have shared it with his father.
"I miss my father. He would be proud. My kids being there for the victory lap made it even more special," said Tendulkar, whose father died during the 1999 World Cup, adding that he had no plans to retire.
"I can't believe we're the world champions. I am enjoying cricket too much to retire from any form of the game," said Tendulkar, who will turn 38 this month.
The master batsman rated Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the "best captain" for leading the team shrewdly in the high-pressure tournament.
"He [Dhoni] reads the situation well, is open to ideas and above all he stays calm and doesn't show frustration," Tendulkar said.
It was the second major title India had won under Dhoni after the World Twenty20 Championships in South Africa in 2007.
Tendulkar said India had peaked at the right time.
"In the knockout stage, we peaked at the right time. We batted, fielded and bowled well. You see effort from all players. Performance no one can guarantee, but effort you can guarantee," said Tendulkar.
India batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar said Monday he had no plans to retire after his World Cup triumph, but said the team would miss outgoing coach Gary Kirsten.
India regained the World Cup after 28 years with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai on Saturday under former South African batsman Kirsten.
"Personally, I would say Gary [Kirsten] should continue but he has family commitments," Tendulkar told the NDTV.
"I respect his decision. We will miss him a lot. It's been a pleasure to work with him. He's probably worked harder than anyone else."
India not only secured the number-one ranking in Tests and number two in one-day internationals under Kirsten, but also became a formidable force both at home and away.
Tendulkar, the world's leading run-scorer in both Tests (14,692) and one-day internationals (18,111), became a World Cup winner for the first time on his sixth and probably last appearance in the tournament.
He said winning the World Cup was his biggest cricketing moment and wished he could have shared it with his father.
"I miss my father. He would be proud. My kids being there for the victory lap made it even more special," said Tendulkar, whose father died during the 1999 World Cup, adding that he had no plans to retire.
"I can't believe we're the world champions. I am enjoying cricket too much to retire from any form of the game," said Tendulkar, who will turn 38 this month.
The master batsman rated Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the "best captain" for leading the team shrewdly in the high-pressure tournament.
"He [Dhoni] reads the situation well, is open to ideas and above all he stays calm and doesn't show frustration," Tendulkar said.
It was the second major title India had won under Dhoni after the World Twenty20 Championships in South Africa in 2007.
Tendulkar said India had peaked at the right time.
"In the knockout stage, we peaked at the right time. We batted, fielded and bowled well. You see effort from all players. Performance no one can guarantee, but effort you can guarantee," said Tendulkar.

Sports are a popular form of entertainment. Many international sporting  events are organized from time to time. Most of these events are sponsored by multinational manufacturing companies and business firms. They pay for the spots events in exchange for the right to advertise their products during those events. These events are telecast worldwide by satellite and people all over the world watch them live. As a result the sponsors products receive maximum media coverage thus giving companies international recognition. This is only the commercial aspect of international sport but there are other aspects too. The sports venue become a meeting place of people from different countries. When people of different nations get together on the occasion of an international sporting event, they come closer to each other, sharing views, opinions and friendship. This opportunity creates a sense of brotherhood and a sprite of mutual co-operation among them. Moreover, getting acquainted with different cultures helps to break down prejudice and broaden outlook. If globalization has anything to do with the development of international relationship, then sports can certainly contribute in a big way to this. Sports are a popular form of entertainment. Many international sporting  events are organized from time to time. Most of these events are sponsored by multinational manufacturing companies and business firms. They pay for the spots events in exchange for the right to advertise their products during those events. These events are telecast worldwide by satellite and people all over the world watch them live. As a result the sponsors products receive maximum media coverage thus giving companies international recognition. This is only the commercial aspect of international sport but there are other aspects too. The sports venue become a meeting place of people from different countries. When people of different nations get together on the occasion of an international sporting event, they come closer to each other, sharing views, opinions and friendship. This opportunity creates a sense of brotherhood and a sprite of mutual co-operation among them. Moreover, getting acquainted with different cultures helps to break down prejudice and broaden outlook. If globalization has anything to do with the development of international relationship, then sports can certainly contribute in a big way to this.