In a thrilling final at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Fortune Barishal successfully chased down 195 runs to defend their (BPL) Bangladesh Premier League title, securing a three-wicket victory with just three balls to spare. The match, which became the second-highest chase in men’s T20 final history, was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Barishal emerging victorious despite some dramatic moments.
Key Contributions from Tamim Iqbal, Kyle Mayers, and Rishad Hossain
The chase was a team effort, but Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal set the tone with a blazing start. Tamim scored a rapid fifty in the initial overs. Then, Kyle Mayers took over in the middle overs to keep the chase on track. Two sixes in the last overs by Rishad Hossain helped secure the match for Barishal. The game was sealed when Binura Fernando and Hussain Talat were hit for sixes by Hossain in the last two overs, after which there was a wide delivery-the game was at an end. Chittagong Kings walked away disappointed.
While Chittagong performed wonderfully through the entire competition, with a wonderful start to the final, Barishal showed depth and composure, helping key players fire at the right time. This win puts Barishal in a position where they have won the BPL two years consecutively while being one of the most consistent teams for the season winning 11 out of the 14 matches played.
Chittagong’s Solid Start Through Parvez Hossain Emon
BPL: Fortune Barishal Defends Their Title (Credits- ESPN)
Chittagong Kings were put in to bat first and got off to a blistering start, thanks to their openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Khawaja Nafay. The pair delivered a match-changing opening stand of 121 runs. Emon carried his bat through the innings, finishing with an unbeaten 78*, while Nafay played aggressively, hitting Rishad Hossain for three sixes in his first two overs. The opening partnership provided the perfect foundation for Chittagong to set a daunting target.
Nafay also reached his half-century, his third in the tournament, and Chittagong seemed on track for a big score. However, Barishal’s bowlers fought back, with Ebadot Hossain breaking the partnership in the 13th over. Graham Clark added 44 off 23 balls, but wickets started to fall as the innings progressed. Mohammad Ali, who had claimed five wickets in the qualifier, was well within his marks to keep the scoring under check with 1 for 21. However, Chittagong’s top order made decent contributions as Chittagong managed to get only 194/3, which wasn’t enough to seal the deal for them.
Tamim Iqbal’s Explosive Start in the Chase
BPL: Fortune Barishal Defends Their Title (Credits- ESPN)
Tamim Iqbal, captain of Fortune Barishal, started his side’s chase by hitting boundaries left and right. In the first over, he hammered three consecutive fours off Binura Fernando and then repeated the feat against Shoriful Islam in the next over, adding a boundary down the ground. Tamim reached his fifty in just 24 balls, proving his dominance early in the chase. Barishal raced to 70 runs in the first seven overs, putting them well ahead of the required run rate.
Chittagong’s Fightback with Shoriful Islam’s Key Strikes
Chittagong managed to halt Barishal’s progress briefly, thanks to a key spell from Shoriful Islam. In the ninth over, Shoriful dismissed Tamim, who was caught at long-off, and then struck again to remove Dawid Malan, who was trapped LBW for just 1. A few balls later, Towhid Hridoy was dismissed for 8, reducing Barishal to 96 for 3 in the 11th over. Despite the mini-collapse, Barishal’s chase remained on track, with Kyle Mayers continuing to anchor the innings.
Mayers and Hossain Guide Barishal Through the Middle Overs
With that initial setback, Mayers became a key performer to keep the chase going. He attacked Hussain Talat and hit two sixes off him in the 12th over. By the time Mushfiqur Rahim lost his wicket at 16, Mayers kept finding the boundary, scoring a four and a six against Shoriful in the 15th over. By then, Mayers had set up Barishal for the title as he hammered two more fours against Binura Fernando.
But there was a bit of a stutter in the 17th and 18th overs when Mahmudullah and Mayers failed to find the boundary. But still, the target was very much within Barishal’s reach. Chittagong’s bowlers, especially Shoriful, were fighting back and taking wickets. They sent Mayers back for 46 off 28 balls and Mahmudullah for 7 off 11 balls.
Rishad Hossain Seals the Victory with Two Massive Sixes
With the game heading into the final over, Barishal needed 10 runs to win. Rishad Hossain played the role of the hero, hitting two crucial sixes in the last two overs to take his team over the line. His aggressive hitting, combined with the wide delivery that ended the match, sealed the victory for Barishal. Despite their best efforts, Chittagong was unable to prevent Barishal from claiming their second BPL title.
A Much-Deserved Victory for Barishal
It was the first victory for Fortune Barishal in the final of the BPL, testifying to the depth and resilience they displayed. Though an intimidating target seemed at hand, the team remained composed throughout, receiving some important contributions from Tamim Iqbal, Kyle Mayers, and Rishad Hossain, thereby proving they were well-deserving champions. This win not only cemented their second successive BPL title but also evidenced their stamina during the entire campaign, making them one of the strongest teams in recent BPL history.
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