TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Mist in the morning Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 26˚C and 16˚C respectively RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 88% Min. 58% TEMPERATURE Max: 26.2˚C (+0.8) Min: 17.6˚C (+3.8) SUN RISES 06:16 hrs MOON RISES 05:53 hrs SUN SETS 17:02 hrs MOON SETS 16:22 hrs New Moon on 31 December THUMBNAILS A boatman breaks a thin sheet of ice as he rows a 'Shikara' on Dal Lake during the 40day winter period of 'Chillai Kalan', in Srinagar on Monday. n ANI Vitul Kumar assigned officiating charge as CRPF Director General: The Centre on Monday assigned senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Vitul Kumar to officiate charge for the post of Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF upon the retirement of the incumbent force chief Anish Dayal Singh on December 31, 2024. Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently serving as Special Director General of the CRPF. BGT: Australia thrash India in final-session thriller at MCG Avoid falling into trap of wrongdoers: CM Mamata With this 184-run victory Australia now has a 2-1 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 30 DECEMBER W hat appeared to have been an epic end to the Boxing Day Test that drew an unprecedented aggregate crowd, turned out a meek surrender from the Indian team as a disciplined Australia came all guns blazing with seven wickets in the final session to claim a 184-run victory, and a 2-1 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The loss technically left the visitors at the mercy of other teams in the race to the ICC World Test Championship final in June. However, despite trailing in the fivematch series, Rohit Sharma’s men still have a chance to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a win in Sydney. For Australia, a win in the final Test and a 3-1 margin would secure their spot in the WTC final alongside South Africa who qualified yesterday with their own gripping victory over Pakistan. After India had slid to 33 for 3, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant added 88 in 32 overs to raise hopes by taking India into the final session with seven wickets in hand, but Travis Head burgled a breakthrough and Australia seized their moment as India lost 7 for 34. Later, India had to rely on three fast-bowling tailenders – Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to negotiate an increasingly frantic final 20 overs. The equation was further down to the final two wickets when Akash fell to the first delivery of Scott Boland's new spell. Nine deliveries into the final hour’s minimum 15 overs, Bumrah was snared by another smart slips catch with the Australians' fielding skills proving a critical difference between the teams. The end then came quickly when Siraj was trapped in front by Lyon, sparking wild celebratory scenes of celebration when umpire Michael Gough's finger was raised and again when the decision was upheld after Siraj's almost apologetic review. Brief Scores: Australia 474 (Smith 140, Marnus 72; Bumrah 4-99) and 234 (Labuschagne 70, Bumrah 557) beat India 369 (Nitish Reddy 114, Jaiswal 82; Boland 3-57) and 155 (Jaiswal 84, Pat Cummins 328, Boland 3-39) by 184 runs. India face do-or-die situation in Sydney to remain in WTC final race: After South Africa confirmed their spot in the ICC World Test Championship final in June 2025 with a nail-biting two-wicket victory in Centurion on Sunday, the race for the second finalist heats up with Australia now the front-runners after their 184-run win at the MCG on Monday. Having said that, India and Sri Lanka are still in contention for the second finalist. The two Asian countries are at the third and fourth place in the standings, with Sri Lanka set to host the Aussies for a two-match Test rubber. For Rohit Sharma & Co, a win in the upcoming Sydney Test could keep them alive for a third straight appearance in the WTC final at the Lord’s. A win would take India to 55.26, which would be enough for them to finish second if Australia were to achieve no more than one draw in Sri Lanka. In that case, Australia would drop to 53.51, and Sri Lanka would finish with 48.72 (with a 1-0 win). However, if India only manage a draw, they will drop to 51.75 and will be out of the WTC final race. For Pat Cummins’ side, a win in Sydney will ensure their spot for a second straight WTC final, regardless of results in Sri Lanka - if Australia were to win in Sydney but lose both Tests in their upcoming series in Sri Lanka, they would finish on 57.02 percentage points to India's 50 and Sri Lanka's 53.85. If Australia were to lose in Sydney, they would need one win in Sri Lanka to qualify. A 1-1 verdict in Sri Lanka after losing in Sydney would leave Australia on 57.02 to India's 55.26. Meanwhile, the Islanders’ fortunes not only are in their own hands, and thus they will be hoping for a draw between India and Australia in Sydney and they then beat Australia 2-0. In that case, Sri Lanka, on 53.85, would finish above Australia (53.51) and India (51.75). If India win in Sydney, they will knock Sri Lanka out. Australia, also, will certainly finish ahead of Sri Lanka if they go to 3-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SANDESHKHALI, 30 DECEMBER Chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged the residents of Sandeshkhali to live in harmony. She arrived at the venue by helicopter around 1 pm, today. In the early part of this year Sandeshkhali witnessed violent protests and agitation. However, by the end of the year, on Monday, the chief minister held an administrative meeting and provided services at the Rishi Aurobindo Mission grounds in Sandeshkhali. The gathering of women at the venue was noteworthy. Without directly referring to the incident in Sandeshkhali, the CM said, "I know there has been a game involving money here. But lies don’t last long." At the same time, she added, "I want the boys and girls of Sandeshkhali to progress, to secure the top positions and to conquer the world." Mamata also referred to the CPM as a "party reduced to a skeleton" and accused it of being a "party of cannibals." The CM also urged the residents of Sandeshkhali to live in harmony. She said, "Stay united. Do not fall into the trap of wrongdoers. I urge the women not to leave if someone calls you." The chief minister urged people not to pay money for availing government projects. She stated, “It is your money, your right. Our projects do not require any payment. Do not pay anyone,” Mamata Banerjee expressed her desire to set up a sandesh hub in Sandeshkhali, modeled after the langcha hub in Burdwan. Mamata Banerjee also declared that the number of beds at Sandeshkhali Rural Hospital will be increased from 30 to 60. To provide services closer to the people, the chief minister announced the formation of a new subdivision in North 24-Parganas district. The chief minister handed over the benefits of several government schemes to beneficiaries. She announced that 66 projects were inaugurated on Monday at a cost of Rs 123 crore. She also laid the foundation stones for several new projects.