Fortune Barishal clinch second consecutive BPL title with thrilling victory

A packed stadium, waves of red dominating the stands, as Fortune Barishal's fans erupted in excitement. Amidst the sea of red, blue tides rose as Khawaja Nafay and Parvez Hossain Emon put on a commanding display with the bat, steering Chittagong Kings to a formidable total. In response, Tamim Iqbal's explosive innings set the tone before Kyle Mayers took charge.

As Mahmudullah Riyad and Mohammad Nabi faltered, concerns loomed over Barishal's chase. However, Rishad Hossain emerged as the hero, dispelling all doubts and guiding his team to a jubilant victory. With a remarkable win, Barishal revelled in championship celebrations.

On Friday, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Fortune Barishal defeated Chittagong Kings by three wickets in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). This victory secured Barishal's second consecutive title. After a twelve-year gap, Chittagong Kings returned to the BPL, only to fall agonisingly short of glory. They previously reached the 2013 BPL final but were defeated by Dhaka Gladiators. Since then, the team had not participated in the tournament for eight editions.

Winning the toss, Barishal opted to field first. Chittagong Kings' openers, Parvez Hossain Emon and Khawaja Nafay, started dominantly, setting the stage with an authoritative opening partnership. Both batsmen reached half-centuries in style, registering the highest-ever opening stand in a BPL final. Graham Clark further accelerated the innings with a brisk knock, propelling Chittagong to a commanding total of 194 for 3.

Fortune Barishal's chase began in electrifying fashion. Tamim Iqbal unleashed an array of boundaries while Towhid Hridoy played a supporting role. Barishal amassed 57 runs within the powerplay, with Tamim leading the charge. In the ninth over, he brought up his fifty in just 24 balls with a six off Arafat Sunny. However, his innings came to an end soon after, as he was dismissed for 54 off 29 balls, featuring nine fours and one six.

Tamim's departure led to a brief collapse, with David Malan falling in the same over. Towhid Hridoy attempted to anchor the innings but perished after a composed 32 off 28 balls. The middle order saw a resurgence as Kyle Mayers and Mushfiqur Rahim stitched together a vital stand, adding 34 runs off just 14 balls. Mushfiqur's quickfire 16 off 9 balls included three fours before he was dismissed.

Mayers continued to lead the charge alongside Mahmudullah Riyad. Their partnership of 42 runs off 29 balls seemed to be guiding Barishal home. However, in the 18th over, Chittagong pacer Shoriful Islam turned the game on its head, dismissing both Mayers and Mahmudullah in quick succession. With 20 runs required from the final 12 balls, the match was poised for a dramatic finish.

Needing 20 runs off two overs, Barishal found hope in Rishad Hossain. He struck a crucial six in the 19th over, which yielded 12 runs. The equation came down to eight runs off the last over. Mohammad Nabi's dismissal on the final ball of the 19th over left all the responsibility on Rishad.

Facing Hussain Talat, Rishad struck a six off the first delivery, levelling the scores. A single off the next ball sealed the victory, triggering euphoric celebrations for Barishal. Rishad remained unbeaten on 18 off just six balls, including two sixes. Shoriful Islam was Chittagong's most successful bowler, claiming 4 for 34 in his four-over spell.

Earlier, Chittagong Kings made an aggressive start with the bat. While Nafay held his ground, Emon took on the Barishal bowlers, punishing them with exquisite strokeplay. As the innings progressed, Nafay too found his rhythm, and together, they dominated the powerplay, scoring 57 runs without loss.

By the 11th over, Chittagong had crossed the 100-run mark. The breakthrough finally came in the 13th over, breaking a record-breaking 121-run stand—the highest opening partnership in BPL final history. The previous best was 76, achieved by Tamim Iqbal and Mehedi Hasan in the last edition's final against Comilla Victorians.

Nafay, continuing his rich vein of form, crafted an elegant 66 off 44 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes. Following his dismissal, Graham Clark took centre stage, ensuring Chittagong maintained momentum. Clark hammered 44 off 23 balls, striking two fours and three sixes.

Despite Emon remaining unbeaten until the end, Chittagong Kings struggled to accelerate in the final over, managing only six runs and losing two wickets. Emon finished on 78* off 49 balls, striking six fours and four sixes. Mohammad Ali and Ebadot Hossain claimed a wicket each for Barishal. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam endured a torrid outing, conceding 40 runs in just two overs.

With this victory, Tamim Iqbal etched his name alongside Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Imrul Kayes as the only captains to win back-to-back BPL titles. While Chittagong Kings fell agonisingly short once again, Fortune Barishal continued their dominance, celebrating a well-earned championship triumph.