DHAKA, Feb 5, 2025 (BSS)—Chittagong Kings moved to the final of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after securing a two-wicket victory against Khulna Tigers in a nerve-wrecking Qualifier-2 game at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

A match that repeatedly gave the adrenaline pumping moment to the fans of the both of the teams, Chittagong finally prevailed by scoring a required 15 runs in the last over, with Aliss Al Islam hammering a boundary through extra cover when his side needed exactly four runs in the last ball Khulna Tigers recovered from the shaky start, thanks to Shimron Hemyer’s 33 ball-63 to rack up 163-6 but Chittagong eventually won the see-saw game by holding their never, albeit with some questions.

With 15 runs requiring in the last over, Arafat Sunny hammered a four in the first ball and scored two in the second ball of pacer Musfik Hasan. He was poised to take another double but Aliss seemed to be injured while reaching the crease after completing one run.

He was taken off the field and Shoriful Islam, the new batter smashed a four before being out in the fifth ball, leaving the side four runs to victory in the last ball. Aliss then again came to the field, a move that Khulna Tigers protested, saying that an injured player couldn’t bat so early after being taken out of the field due to injury.

However, umpires permitted him and Aliss did the rest to take Chittagong to the final. They will take on Fortune Barishal in the grand final on Friday.

Earlier in Qualifier-1 game, Chittagong lost Barishal to be forced to play Qualifier-2 game.
While chasing the target, Chittagong lost Parvez Hossain Emon (4) and Graham Clark (4) cheaply to be reduced to 35-2 before Khawaja Nafay and Hussein Talat, the two Pakistan recruits steadied the ship.

Nafay made team-best 57 off 46 with four fours and three sixes while Talal added 25 ball-40, hitting five fours and one six.

They added 70-run for the third wicket as Chittagong looked to win the game with ease. Nasum Ahmed broke the partnership, getting rid of Talat and thereafter Hasan Mahmud and Musfik Hasan, who both scalped three wickets apiece, sparked a collapse that saw Chittagong losing five wickets for 25 runs.

At this point, Chittagong needed 34 runs from 18 balls with three wickets at hands.

With all tail-enders at the crease, Khulna sensed a victory but Aliss and Arafat Sunny played some bold shots to help the side achieve an epic victory. Sunny was unbeaten on 18 with Aliss on 17.
Khulna who won the Eliminator game against Rangpur Riders to move to Qualifier-2 were reduced to 42-4 after being asked to bat first with Chittagong Kings Sri Lankan pacer Binura Fernando running riot on them by moving the ball admirably in both ways.

He rattled the stump of Khulna captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 2 to give the opening. He didn’t get any wicket in the first power play but the way he curbed the aggression of Khulna batters, gave other bowlers a platform to go rampaging.

Off spinner Aliss Al Islam got the better of Alex Ross with return catch for duck before pacer Khaled Ahmed, uprooted the stump of Naim Sheikh who made 19. Arafat Sunny then joined the party to take the wicket of Afif Hossain for 8
Hetmyer resisted, ably supported by Mahidul Islam Ankon as the duo added 73-run for the fifth wicket. Pacer Shoriful Islam broke through with the wicket of Ankon who made 32 ball-41 with one four and three sixes.

Khulna pinned hopes on Hetmyer to give a whirlwind finish but Fernando denied him, ending his pyrotechnique that laced with six fours and four sixes. Still his knock was instrumental in giving the side a considerable total as he helped the muster 69 runs in the last four overs.

Fernando eventually finished with 2-27 to be the best bowler for Chittagong.