Needing 26 runs off the final over, Nurul Hasan Sohan smashed three sixes and three fours to lead Rangpur Riders to a memorable victory over Fortune Barishal.
The over started with a six, followed by two fours. Then came another six, a four, and yet another six. Nurul Hasan Sohan’s heroics were unlike anything seen before in Bangladesh cricket. Facing Kyle Mayers in the final over, Sohan crushed 30 runs, sealing an extraordinary win for Rangpur Riders as their captain.
The Sylhet International Stadium witnessed an incredible battle. In a showdown between arguably the strongest teams in the BPL, Rangpur Riders snatched victory from Barishal’s grasp. The three-wicket triumph extended Rangpur’s unbeaten streak to six wins in six matches.
Kyle Mayers had powered Barishal to 197 runs in 20 overs with an unbeaten 61 off 29 balls, which included seven sixes. Chasing that target, Rangpur seemed out of contention at one stage until Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah brought them back into the game. However, it was Nurul Hasan Sohan’s fairy-tale finish in the final over that rewrote the script.
This win set a new record in BPL history for the most runs successfully chased in the last over. The celebrations from Rangpur Riders resembled the jubilation of winning a championship.
Strong Start for Barishal
Fortune Barishal kept Najmul Hossain Shanto as the wicketkeeper-batsman in the playing XI, opening with him alongside Tamim Iqbal. Shanto, who had scored just 13 runs across three matches in the tournament, finally showed signs of form. His partnership with Tamim provided the foundation for a big total.
Rangpur opened their bowling with two off-spinners to counter the left-handers. Tamim was initially restricted, managing just 4 runs off 14 balls. But he broke free with two boundaries off Sheikh Mahedi Hasan after Shanto had already hit a six earlier.
Shanto struck three boundaries in Nahid Rana’s first over, while Tamim hammered two sixes and a four in consecutive deliveries from Iftikhar Ahmed. Together, they added 81 runs in 10 overs – the best opening partnership in this BPL season so far.
Kamrul’s Double Blow
Kamrul Islam Rabbi removed both openers in quick succession. Shanto fell for 41 off 30 balls on Kamrul’s very first delivery. Kyle Mayers stepped in and smashed his first ball for a six.
Tamim, who had already survived two edge-of-the-bat mishaps, fell for 40 off 34 balls, caught at mid-off.
Another Partnership Builds
Despite the setbacks, Barishal remained stable due to Mayers’ aggressive approach and Towhid Hridoy’s steady support. The duo added 59 runs off 35 balls before Hridoy departed for 23 runs off 18 balls.
The Final Flourish
After Hridoy’s dismissal, Mahmudullah fell quickly for just 2 runs. However, Mayers and Fahim Ashraf ensured a strong finish. Fahim blasted two sixes and a four off Nahid Rana in just six balls before being run out for 20.
Mayers added three sixes in the final over bowled by Saifuddin, helping Barishal score 44 runs in the last two overs and finish just shy of 200.
Nahid’s Struggles
Nahid Rana, who had shown signs of fatigue in the previous match, appeared exhausted again in this game – his sixth in just 11 days. His usual pace and control were missing, as he gave away 47 runs in four wicketless overs – his most expensive spell in this season.
Match Summary:
- Fortune Barishal: 197/5 in 20 overs (Tamim 40, Shanto 41, Mayers 61*, Hridoy 23, Fahim 20; Sheikh Mahedi 1/19, Kamrul 2/47).
- Rangpur Riders: 200/7 in 20 overs (Iftikhar 48, Khushdil 48, Sohan 32*; Rishad 1/26, Fahim 1/30).
Result: Rangpur Riders won by 3 wickets.
Player of the Match: Nurul Hasan Sohan.
