Chattogram Kings made a stunning comeback from the brink of defeat, powered by their lower-order batsmen, to secure a place in the final after a 12-year absence from the BPL. Khulna Tigers, on the verge of victory, suffered a heartbreaking loss.
The moment Arafat Sunny struck a boundary off the first ball of the final over, Khulna’s coach Talha Zubair buried his face in his hands, sensing the inevitable. But the drama was far from over. The tension reached its peak on the last ball when Aliss Islam smashed a brilliant boundary, sealing a historic win for Chattogram.
In a nerve-wracking second qualifier, Chattogram edged out Khulna Tigers by two wickets off the final delivery. The franchise, which last played the BPL final in 2013, returned to the grand stage in their comeback season.
A Rollercoaster Chase
The chase had plenty of twists. At one stage, Chattogram seemed on course for a comfortable win, needing just 59 runs in eight overs with eight wickets in hand. However, a dramatic collapse left them struggling at 130/7 after 17 overs.
With no recognized batsmen or all-rounders left, tailenders Arafat Sunny and Aliss Islam stepped up under immense pressure. The two spinners, both of whom had faced scrutiny over their bowling actions earlier in the tournament, batted like seasoned pros, taking Chattogram closer to victory.
Despite their fightback, Khulna still had the upper hand going into the final over. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz surprisingly handed the ball to young pacer Mushfiq Hasan instead of Jason Holder. With 15 runs needed, Sunny and Aliss delivered three crucial boundaries, securing an unforgettable win for Chattogram.
Khulna’s Early Stumbles
Opting to bowl first, Chattogram Kings had a fantastic start as Khulna’s innings struggled to gain momentum. Opener Mohammad Naim Sheikh hit four boundaries in the first four overs and became the first batsman in the tournament to cross 500 runs. However, he received no support from the other end.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was bowled for 2 while attempting a slog against Binura Fernando. Alex Ross (0 off 6) misread an Aliss Islam delivery and gifted an easy return catch. Naim himself fell for 19 (22 balls) to Syed Khaled Ahmed, while Afif Hossain (8 off 14) also departed cheaply, leaving Khulna reeling at 46/4 after 10 overs.
The Fightback Begins
Khulna sent Mahidul Islam Ankon at No. 5 instead of his usual finisher’s role, pairing him with Shimron Hetmyer to rebuild the innings.
Their counterattack began in the 11th over, with Hetmyer hitting a boundary off Shoriful Islam, followed by a four and six from Mahidul. In the 14th over, Shamim Hossain was also dispatched for a six.
The duo played with caution while still finding regular boundaries. Between the 11th and 16th overs, Khulna added 46 runs without losing a wicket.
The Late-Over Explosion
Khulna’s innings took a dramatic turn in the last four overs, adding a staggering 71 runs.
Mahidul launched a six off Khaled’s over before Hetmyer smashed two back-to-back sixes. Mahidul’s innings (41 off 32) ended in the 16th over, breaking their 73-run partnership. However, Hetmyer kept going, hitting two more fours in the next over.
Fernando, who had conceded just six runs in his first three overs, was demolished for 21 in his final over, including two fours and two sixes from Hetmyer.
Hetmyer, who was at 22 off 21 balls after 16 overs, exploded to score 41 off his next 11 balls before perishing while attempting another six.
The carnage continued in the last over, as Mohammad Nawaz and Jason Holder added 17 more runs, powering Khulna to 163/6.
At the innings break, the Khulna dugout erupted in celebration, believing the momentum was with them.
Naf’s ‘No-Look’ Sixes and Hasan’s Early Blows
Chattogram’s chase started in thrilling fashion as Khawaja Nafay struck two sensational “no-look” sixes off Hasan Mahmud and Jason Holder. Without even watching the ball, he sent it soaring over the ropes in effortless fashion.
However, in between those shots, Parvez Hossain Emon (4 off 6) fell cheaply, mistiming a pull shot to Hasan Mahmud. Hasan then bowled Graham Clark (4) with a beauty, reducing Chattogram to 46/2 in the powerplay.
A Crucial Partnership
Despite an even start, Chattogram began gaining control thanks to Nafay and Hussain Talat. The duo put on a solid 70-run partnership off 48 balls.
They played smart cricket, finding boundaries regularly without taking excessive risks. Mohammad Nawaz’s over yielded 17 runs, and Nafay brought up his fifty in 36 balls with a six off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. By the 12th over, Chattogram had crossed 100, looking set for victory.
The Stunning Collapse
Just when it seemed like a routine chase, the match flipped. Talat (40 off 25) was caught in the deep off a short ball from Nasum Ahmed.
Two overs later, Shamim Hossain (5) also threw his wicket away, caught at short fine leg.
Panic set in when Nafay (57 off 46) attempted a scoop shot against Mushfiq Hasan’s slower ball and was bowled. The over turned disastrous as Khaled Ahmed also departed.
Captain Mohammad Mithun’s dismissal soon after left Chattogram in tatters.
At 105/2 after 12 overs, they collapsed to 130/7 by the 17th over!
The Last-Over Heroics
With 15 needed off the last over, Mushfiq Hasan bowled under pressure. Sunny and Aliss Islam held their nerve, hitting three boundaries to complete a stunning comeback and take Chattogram to the final.
Match Summary:
- Khulna Tigers: 163/6 in 20 overs (Mahidul 41, Hetmyer 63, Naim 19, Holder 12*; Fernando 1/27, Shoriful 1/51, Aliss 1/14)
- Chattogram Kings: 164/8 in 20 overs (Nafay 57, Talat 40, Shamim 5, Mithun 7, Sunny 18*, Aliss 17*; Hasan 3/34, Nasum 2/21, Mushfiq 3/32)
Result: Chattogram Kings won by 2 wickets.
Man of the Match: Aliss Islam.
