Novak Djokovic makes history with 19th Grand Slam title



Sports Desk
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic

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Novak Djokovic claimed a 19th Grand Slam title and became the first man in 52 years to win all four majors twice when he came from two sets down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in a gripping French Open final on Sunday. The world number one triumphed 6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 over the Greek 22-year-old who was playing in his first Slam final. Djokovic is now just one major away from equalling the all-time record of 20, jointly held by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

It was a second French Open crown for Djokovic after his 2016 victory and adds to his nine Australian Opens, five Wimbledon titles and three at the US Open.

The 34-year-old is the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Slams on multiple occasions and just the third in history.

He is also the first man ever to win a Slam title by twice coming back from two sets down in same the tournament.

Djokovic now has 84 career titles in total while Sunday's win pushed him to the brink of $150 million in prize money.

"It was an electric atmosphere," said Djokovic after the four-hour 11-minute final.

"It's a dream. It's difficult to win the title against a great player. It was a difficult three days physically and mentally," he added.

Djokovic had also spent more than four hours on court on Friday to knock out defending champion Rafael Nadal.

Tsitsipas survived a nervy opening service game, having to save two break points.

Djokovic, by contrast, didn't concede a point in his first three service games.

But suddenly he faced a set point in the 10th game courtesy of an ugly shank but saved it after a 26-shot rally.

Fired up by a time violation, Djokovic broke for the first time for a 6-5 lead but was unable to serve out the opener as a series of razor-sharp returns put Tsitsipas back on level terms.

In a dramatic tiebreaker, Tsitsipas saw a 4/0 and 5/2 lead disappear.

He had to save a set point before claiming the opener after 70 minutes when Djokovic fired a forehand wide.

Dropping the opening set at this year's Roland Garros was familiar territory for Djokovic. He had to recover from two sets down to beat Lorenzo Musetti in the last 16 and lost the opener against Nadal on Friday.

Tsitsipas, 12 years the world number one's junior, broke again in the first game of the second set as the 2016 champion looked increasingly weary in the 30-degree afternoon heat.

The Greek edged ahead 5-2 and pocketed the second set with his eighth ace of the contest.

But the top seed wasn't finished, breaking in the fourth game of the third set to cut the deficit.

Tsitsipas then called the trainer to treat a back problem which also gave him the opportunity to change the clay-covered shirt he'd worn since a first set tumble.

Thirty minutes later, it was two sets apiece after Djokovic secured a double break.

Source: NDTV

   

Bangladesh won series comfortably against Sri Lanka



Sports Desk, Barta24.com
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Rishad Hossain, the name must be remembered. He had a storm with the bat in the last match of the T20 series as well, but the result did not go in his favor. In the last match of the ODI series, Rishad appeared with the bat again after getting a chance in the team. Bangladesh won the series by 2-1 by losing 4 wickets of the Lankans in the last ODI of the series with his bat.

In the series deciding match at the Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, Sri Lanka had a toss of luck. The Lankans, who won the toss and batted first, were uncomfortable from the start. Within 15 runs, Taskin Ahmed guided both the visitors' openers to the sack.

Charit Asalanka and Kushal Mendis tried to handle the initial shock. However, Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain ended their innings before it became scary. Asalanka with 37 runs and Mendis with catches behind the wicket for 29 runs increased the danger of the team.

Zenith Lienage tried to pull the Lankans out of that danger. He also played an unbeaten innings of 101 runs in 102 balls. However, despite the subsequent batsmen failing to give him minimal support, Lienage played a role in bringing the team to his maiden century of ODI career.

Taskin took the maximum 3 wickets for Bangladesh. Two wickets each went to Mustafiz and Mehdi Hasan Miraj.

Bangladesh lost Soumya Sarkar due to injury while fielding. Tanjid Hasan Tamim played a great innings as his concussion replacement. However, Lahiru Kumara swept over the other batters around him. Opener Enamul Haque Vijay, captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hriday and Mahmudullah became the victims of this Lankan pacer.

Mahmudullah scored 0 and 1 respectively in the next two matches despite playing an effective match-turning innings of 37 runs in the first ODI.

Tanjid picked up a 51-ball fifty on a day of failure by experienced batsmen. He was stopped by Wanindu Hasaranga after playing an innings of 84 runs with 9 fours and four massive sixes. Asalanka was caught on the boundary while trying to hit a big shot and burned in the regret of missing the century. Losing him, the danger of the team has increased!

However, in the sixth wicket, two experienced batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehdi Hasan Miraj scored 48 runs for Bangladesh to dream of winning again. 25 runs came off Hasaranga's bat before he was caught on the boundary.

Rishad Hossain came to the scene after the return of Miraj. Cricket fans saw his rampage with the bat in the T20 series against Sri Lanka. Today, after getting the opportunity, his bat was on fire again. He won the match and series by playing an unbeaten innings of 48 runs from 18 balls.

After pushing back the nightmare of defeat in two consecutive ODI series at home, Bangladesh has won the ODI series again. The pain of the T20 series loss will also be mitigated to some extent by this win. After two series of white ball, now two teams will fight in white clothes. The first Test of the two-match series will begin in Sylhet on March 22.

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Sri Lanka leveled series



Sports Desk, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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The expectation of Bangladesh to win the series at home was delayed. At least two more days! Having lost the last two ODI series in their home ground, Bangladesh had a bird's eye view of the Sri Lanka series. But Sri Lanka is out of the question. After losing the first match, they gritted their teeth and returned to level the series. Bangladesh lost to the Lankans by 3 wickets in the second ODI of the three-match series.

Bangladesh lost the toss and had to bat first at Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Bangladesh's innings started with a scare when Liton Das made his way to the dressing room before opening the run book for the second consecutive match. However, with Soumya Sarkar's responsible innings of 68 runs, the first match centurion captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto's 40-run innings overcame the initial shock and the hosts got the basis for a big collection.

Tawheed is the goal that is fulfilled in the bat of the heart. His unbeaten innings of 96 helped Bangladesh to 286 in 50 overs. Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga got 4 wickets.

Sri Lanka started losing wickets at regular intervals as they started to reply. They were able to accumulate 60 runs on the scoreboard at the cost of three wickets in the power play of Taskin-Shariful's bowling spell.

However, opener Pathum Nisanka and Charit Asalanka, who was dropped at five, formed a big partnershi for the fourth wicket with the benefit of dew in Chattogram later in the evening. With the passage of time, this pair started playing with the bat. Bangladesh bowlers were feeling helpless in front of them. The fielders failed to collect the two half-chances that were being created. Nisanka picked up a 100-ball century just in time for the dew and the fielders not to be affected.

After the century, Nisanka was caught by Liton off Mehedi’s ball in the boundary area while going further uphill. He had to stop at 114 runs. That ended his 185-run stand with Asalanka for the fourth wicket. This is now Sri Lanka's highest fourth wicket partnership in ODIs.

Asalanka (91) could not stay at the crease for long after breaking the pair. The middle-order batsman returned as Taskin Ahmed's 100th victim in ODIs with a shaky 90 at home.

Sri Lanka could have been in danger losing two sets of batters within seven runs. But Hasaranga did not let that happen. Even though he couldn't stay at the crease in the end, his 25-run cameo ensured victory for the Lankans.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will face each other in the third and last ODI of the series on March 18 at the same ground. Like the T20 series, the ODI series will also be decided in the last match of the series. Like the T20 series, the end of the ODI series is also colorful for the Lankans. 

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The death of a SAFF winner footballer after delivery



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Satkhira
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Footballer Razia Sultana, a member of the U-19 women's national football team, died of a stroke after giving birth.

On Thursday (March 14), this accomplished female footballer lost her life at her home in Laxminathpur village of Mautla Union in Kaliganj Upazila of Satkhira.

Kaliganj Upazila Chairman Said Mehdi, citing the family, said that footballer Razia Sultana is a daughter of a poor family. Yesterday, Wednesday (March 13) around 10 pm, she gave birth to a son. Later, Razia suddenly suffered a stroke at three o'clock in the night. She died around four in the morning on the way to Kaliganj Hospital.

Mehdi further added that Razia was the best player in football competitions since primary school. Later she got the opportunity to play in the national women's football team. She went to Bhutan to play for the Under-19 National Women's Football Team. But a few days ago, she was given in marriage by the family. We are saddened by the news of her untimely death.

It should be noted that in 2018, Razia Sultana was one of the members of the victorious under-18 women's football team of Bangladesh.

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Shanta's century and Mushfiqur fifty gave Bangladesh a great win



Sports Desk, Barta24.com, Chattogram
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An incredible century by skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanta, along with a blistering fifty by veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, defeated the Lankan lions. Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first at Chattogram's Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. They piled up 255 runs on the scoreboard before being bowled out in 48.5 overs with a pair of fifties by Janith Lienage and Kushal Mendis. For the visitors, the team's maximum 67 runs came from Lianag's bat. Captain Mendis scored 59 runs.

Bangladesh pacers Tanjim Shakib, Taskin Ahmed and Shariful Islam shared 9 of the opposition's 10 wickets, performing as a great pace bowling unit; all three of them took three wickets each.

Looking at the target of 256 runs, no one should be disappointed. In today's context of ODIs, it is not an exaggeration to call this target simple. However, Bangladesh lost its breath in the beginning to chase this run. The hosts lost three top-order batsmen Liton, Soumy and Hriday to score 23 runs.

Mahmudullah Riyad's 62-ball 69-run partnership with skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanta led Bangladesh to move towards the target. But Mahmudullah stopped at 37 runs while going too hard.

Shanta continued to fight with experienced Mushfiqur Rahim. The 'Captains' knocked 53 and got a personal half-century. He spent another 55 balls to turn his fifty into a century. Mushfiqur Rahim, who saw Shanta's brilliant century from the other end, was not far behind. This burnt cricketer left the field only after reaching the port of victory in a responsible fifty.

Shanta's 129-ball match-winning innings of 122* included 13 fours and two sixes. On the other hand, Mushfiq played an effective innings of 73* runs in 8 fours.

Bangladesh was in some trouble after losing four of the last four ODI series at home. Shanta and his compatriots has a bird's eye view of this series against Sri Lanka. The red-green representatives successfully passed the first step of that goal

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