Fortune Barishal delivered a dominant performance to book their place in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25 final, defeating Chittagong Kings by nine wickets in the first qualifier. Towhid Hridoy’s unbeaten 82 and Mohammad Ali’s sensational five-wicket haul were the defining moments of a one-sided contest that saw Barishal comfortably chase down a 150-run target with 16 balls to spare.
Mohammad Ali’s Five-Wicket Haul Dismantles Chittagong Kings
Playing his first match of the season, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Ali made an immediate impact, tearing through the Chittagong Kings’ batting lineup with a stunning spell. Ali returned figures of 5 for 24, making him only the third bowler in this year’s BPL to claim a five-wicket haul, following Taskin Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf. His spell was highlighted by an extraordinary 19th over, where he claimed four wickets in six balls, single-handedly derailing Chittagong’s hopes of setting a formidable total.
Mayers Strikes Early to Weaken Chittagong’s Start
Chittagong Kings’ innings got off to a shaky start, with Kyle Mayers setting the tone with early wickets. In his return to BPL action after a stint in the ILT20, Mayers bowled Khawaja Nafay for a duck with a sharp inswinger before dismissing Graham Clark in the covers, reducing the Kings to 14 for 2 within the powerplay.
Despite captain Mohammad Mithun and Haider Ali attempting a counterattack, both fell cheaply. Mithun was dismissed for just 1, courtesy of a brilliant diving catch by Hridoy, while Ebadot Hossain castled Haider Ali in the sixth over, leaving Chittagong reeling at 39 for 4.
Shamim Hossain’s Heroics Keep Chittagong Afloat
With their top order collapsing, Shamim Hossain and Parvez Hossain Emon rebuilt the innings with a 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Shamim, who scored 79 off 45 balls, played an aggressive knock featuring nine fours and four sixes. His signature sweeps, switch hits, and a no-look flick for six against Mahmudullah stood out. Parvez provided solid support with a composed 36 off 36, ensuring Chittagong reached a somewhat competitive 149 for 9.
However, the momentum swung entirely in Barishal’s favor when Mohammad Ali’s devastating 19th over removed Shamim, Khaled Ahmed, Arafat Sunny, and Aliss Al Islam in quick succession, leaving Chittagong with an underwhelming total.
Hridoy’s Masterclass Guides Barishal to Victory
Chasing 150, Barishal’s opening duo of Towhid Hridoy and Tamim Iqbal provided a steady foundation with a 55-run partnership in nine overs. Tamim, who made 29 off 26, fell to a deep catch off Khaled Ahmed’s bowling, but his dismissal did little to dent Barishal’s chase.
Dawid Malan entered with an aggressive intent, striking boundaries early to ensure the required run rate remained within control. Hridoy, anchoring the innings, paced his knock perfectly, bringing up his first fifty of this BPL campaign off 45 balls. He accelerated further, finishing unbeaten on 82 off 57 deliveries, decorated with nine boundaries and a six. Malan contributed a composed 34*, ensuring Barishal reached the target in just 17.2 overs.
Fortune Barishal vs Chittagong Kings Match Summary
Fortune Barishal 150/1 (17.2/20 overs) beat Chittagong Kings 149/9 (20 overs) by nine wickets
- Fortune Barishal Batting: Towhid Hridoy 82* (57), Dawid Malan 34* (22), Tamim Iqbal 29 (26)
- Chittagong Kings Bowling: Khaled Ahmed 1/33
- Chittagong Kings Batting: Shamim Hossain 79 (45), Parvez Hossain Emon 36 (36), Mohammad Ali 5/24
- Fortune Barishal Bowling: Mohammad Ali 5/24, Kyle Mayers 2/21, Ebadot Hossain 1/27
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Fortune Barishal Eye Back-to-Back BPL Titles
With this comprehensive victory, Fortune Barishal advance to their third BPL final since the pandemic and remain on course to defend their title. They now await the winner of the second qualifier between Khulna Tigers and Chittagong Kings, scheduled for Wednesday.
Barishal’s all-round dominance, spearheaded by Ali’s destructive bowling and Hridoy’s batting brilliance, cements them as the favorites heading into the final. Can they go all the way once again and retain their championship? Cricket fans will eagerly wait for the grand showdown.
