DHAKA, Feb 1, 2025 (BSS)—Opener Parvez Hossain Emon blasted a 41 ball-75 as Chittagong Kings thrashed Fortune Barishal by 24 runs, a victory that put them in the top two of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) points table at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Despite the defeat that snapped their five-match winning streak, Barishal ended group phase as table topper with 18 points from 12 matches. Chittagong and Rangpur Riders have same 16 points but the former displaced the later from the second position, thanks to better run rate.

Chittagong, however, will take on Barishal in the Qualifier 1, a game that will determine that who will make it final directly. The team which will loss will get the second chance to give a shot at the final.

Third placed Rangpur Riders will take on Khulna Tigers in the Eliminator. The team that will loss the Eliminator game will be eliminated from the race directly while the Eliminator winner will take on the loser of Qualifier 1 in the Qualifier 2 game.

Both Eliminator and Qualifier 1 game will be held on Monday while Qualifier 2, a virtual semi-final will be taken place on Wednesday.

Thanks to Emon’s brilliance, Chittagong Kings posted a mammoth 206-4, a target that was enough to seal the deal as Barishal were held back to 182-7.

Put into bat first, Emon and Khawaja Nafay added 58 runs for the opening stand in just 6.5 overs to lay a solid base. Despite the departure of Nafay for 22, Emon continued his juggernaut to push the scoreboard 10 runs per over
He hit one four and eight sixes in his knock, which came to an end when he top-edged a delivery of fast bowler Ebadot Hossain.

Hadier Ali hammered 23 ball-42 not out and Shamim Patwari made an unbeaten 30 off 12 to help the side give a whirlwind finish.

Fast bowler Binura Fernando and off spinner Aliss Al Islam took two wickets apiece to leave Barishal in the limbo while chasing the massive target.

Fernando dismissed Tamim Iqbal in the first over for duck as Barishal made a poor start to be left out for 13-2. Dawid Malan and Mushfiqur Rahim resisted and when it looked they would help the side recover the shaky start, Aliss got the better of Mushfiqur for 24.

Malan waged a lone battle before Aliss again struck to get his prized scalp. Before being out, Malan top-scored for the side with 34 ball-62, a knock laced with five fours and six sixes.

Veteran Mahmudulllah, however, was not out on 41 off 26 after hitting two fours and as many sixes but his knock was not enough to drive the side to the victory.