Fortune Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal scored a fantastic half-century to lead his side to a thrilling three-wicket win over Chittagong Kings in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday, February 7. (More Cricket News)
A legend of Bangladesh cricket, Iqbal scored 54 in just 29 balls to help Barishal get a quick start in a steep 195-run chase. West Indies all-rounder Kyle Mayers kept the momentum going on with a 28-ball 46 but left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam brought Chittagong back into the game with four wickets.
Just when things got tricky, Rishad Hossain stood up for Barishal and smashed two sixes in his six-ball unbeaten 18 to take his side to the trophy. Barishal won by three wickets with four balls left in the game.
Barishal thus retained the trophy and Iqbal's team became the third BPL franchise to win back-to-back titles.
Earlier, after being put into bat first, Chittagong had a brilliant start. Openers Khawaja Nafay and Parvez Hossain Emon stitched a 121-run stand for the first wicket. Nafay was dismissed for 66 off 44 balls in the 13th over by Ebadot Hossain. Graham Clark, in at number three, then took over and slammed a 23-ball 44 before he was run out in the final over. Emon finished unbeaten with 78 off 49 balls and Chittagong posted 194/3 in 20 overs.
Despite Shoriful's 4/34, Chittagong could not defend the total and missed out on the trophy.
Iqbal won the Player of the Match award while Khulna Tigers' skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz was declared the Player of the Tournament for his all-round exploits.
Fortune Barishal vs Chittagong Kings, BPL Final Playing XIs
Fortune Barishal Playing XI: Tamim Iqbal (c), Towhid Hridoy, Dawid Malan, Kyle Mayers, Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Mahmudullah, Mohammad Nabi, Rishad Hossain, Ebadot Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mohammad Ali
Chittagong Kings Playing XI: Khawaja Nafay, Parvez Hossain Emon, Graham Clark, Hussain Talat, Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Mithun (w/c), Khaled Ahmed, Arafat Sunny, Naeem Islam, Binura Fernando, Shoriful Islam
