DHAKA, Feb 7, 2025 (BSS) - Fortune Barishal retained the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title by showing an unwavering resolve in the crunch moment of the grand final against Chittagong Kings at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

In a see-saw battle, Barishal won the key moments to romp to a three-wicket victory that gave them a second straight trophy, making them third team in the BPL history after Dhaka and Cumilla franchise to defend the title successfully.

And Tamim Iqbal became the third captain after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Imrul Kayes to win consecutive two BPL trophies.

He led the side with a captain’s knock, smashing a 29 ball-54, that was instrumental in helping the side overhaul Chittagong’s respectable 194-3, with three balls to spare. The victory of Barishal was confirmed when Hussain Talat bowled a wide.

This is the highest successful chase in BPL’s final, surpassing Comilla Victorians' record of chasing down 175 against the Sylhet Strikers in the final of BPL 9 in 2023.

Half-centuries from openers Parvez Hossain Emon (78 not out) and Khawja Nafay (66) guided Chittagong Kings to a respectable total albeit it still looked inadequate given the placid nature of the pitch and the power-packed batting line up of Barishal that included skipper Tamim Iqbal, who is always a brute force in the BPL final game.

And Tamim lived up to his final game reputation once again. During his first title with Cumilla Victorians in 2019 as player, Tamim struck a 61 ball-141 not out, a knock that still considered as the best ever batting performance in BPL history. He hit 26 ball-39 in the last BPL final and this time made 29 ball-54.

But despite Tamim’s hurricane start like his heydays, the game saw a massive ebb and flow, making it a perfect final in front of a jam-packed stadium, largely dominated by Barishal supporters. The wide single that ensured the inevitable sent those Barishal fans into delirium as they chanted with deafening roars, giving a perfect send-off to the season’s BPL.

But what happened in between was like a picture-perfect drama, sending shockwave to the fans of both teams repeatedly.

Tamim, the aggressor and Towhid Hridoy made a rapid start to chase down a massive total. They shared 76 runs in just 8.1 overs, before Shoriful Islam broke through. He removed Tamima after he clobbered nine fours and one six in his knock.

In the same over, Shoriful trapped Malan leg-before to make Barishal 78-2 and suddenly, Chittagong clawed back into the game.

Kyle Mayers made a slow start before going berserk but Chittagong kept pushing with the wicket of Hridoy who made 32 Mushfiqur Rahim (16),
At this phase, Chittagong appeared to be in stranglehold in the match. Mayers brought his Caribbean power to tilt the game again toward Barishal before Shoriful, like a wounded Tiger, helped his side hit back again.

He dealt a double blow that accounted Mayers and Mahmudullah Riyad at the same over. Mayers dismissal after striking 28 ball-46 put Chittagong again in dominant position firmly. Shoriful did his best to finish with 4-34.

But the drama again unfolded with Rishad Hossain flexing muscle to hit Binura Fernando a six in the penultimate over, leaving the equation down to just 8 runs in the last over.

As Hussein Talat came to bowl the last over, Rishad ended all equation, by hitting his first ball a towering six. He then took a single to level the score before Talal bowled a wide to hand Barishal its second title.

Pakistan recruit Nafay and Emon put on a record 121 runs in 12.4 overs, a partnership that hinted at least 200 plus total for the port city franchise. But Chittagong slowed down in the middle overs despite a plenty of wickets at hands, a factor that eventually denied them the 200 plus total. In middle overs, they scored 85 runs in nine overs.

Emon carried the bat throughout the innings but remained not out on 78 off 49, after hitting six fours and four sixes.

Pacer Ebadot Hossain broke through the opening partnership by getting rid of Nafay who made 66 off 44 with seven fours and three sixes. Graham Clark was the other notable scorer with 23 ball-44.
Chittagong, however, paced the innings toward the end and scored 51 runs in the last five overs. But at the end the middle overs meltdown cost them the game.

Barishal were rewarded with Tk, 2.50 crore along with a trophy while Chittagong got Tk. 1.50 for being the runners-up.