Fortune Barishal reclaim BPL title with record win

Fortune Barishal Clinch Back-to-Back BPL Titles in a Thrilling Finish

Draped in red jerseys, the packed stands erupted in joy as Fortune Barishal secured their second consecutive BPL title, defeating Chittagong Kings in a dramatic last-over showdown.

The stadium looked like a sea of red, with nearly 20,000 out of 24,000 spectators cheering for Barishal. Just before the final over, the crowd was tense, silent like the calm before a storm. But as Rishad Hossain smashed the first ball for a six, the sea of red turned into roaring waves of celebration. Moments later, the dream became reality—Fortune Barishal were BPL champions again.

Barishal successfully defended their title with a thrilling 3-wicket victory, led by captain Tamim Iqbal. Chittagong set a formidable 194-run target at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, but Barishal chased it down with four balls to spare—marking the highest-ever run chase in a BPL final.

Nafe-Parvez Set the Stage
Chittagong got off to a flying start, thanks to an explosive 121-run opening stand between Khawaja Nafe and Parvez Hossain. It was the first-ever century-opening partnership in a BPL final.

Despite a cautious start, Parvez unleashed his power, smashing boundaries and sixes, while Nafe followed suit. Their aggressive approach saw Chittagong post 57 runs in the powerplay, their highest in this tournament.

After reaching 66 off 44 balls, Nafe was dismissed, but Graham Clark picked up where he left off. He quickly made his presence felt, smashing fours and sixes to keep the momentum going. Chittagong’s innings looked set for a grand finish, but Barishal’s bowlers pulled things back.

Mohammad Ali’s Crucial Overs Restrict Chittagong
Pakistan’s Mohammad Ali was the game-changer at the death. He bowled a brilliant 17th over, allowing just four singles. In the final over, he conceded only six runs and dismissed Shamim Hossain. His spell (4-0-21-1) ensured Chittagong managed only 31 runs in the last four overs, missing out on the explosive finish they had hoped for.

Tamim’s Fiery Start Sets the Tone
Barishal needed an aggressive start to chase 194, and Tamim Iqbal delivered. He hammered three boundaries in the opening over and smashed three consecutive fours off Shariful Islam in the third over. By the end of the powerplay, Barishal had matched Chittagong’s 57-run mark, with Tamim scoring 39 of them.

The skipper reached his fifty in just 25 balls with a combination of boundaries and sixes, keeping Barishal ahead in the chase.

Shariful Strikes Twice, but Barishal Stay on Course
Chittagong found a breakthrough as Shariful removed the dangerous Tamim for 54, ending a 76-run opening stand. Two balls later, he dismissed the in-form Dawid Malan, briefly halting Barishal’s charge.

Towhid Hridoy tried to anchor the innings, but his slow start (22 off 20 balls in 9 overs) put pressure on the middle order. Naim Islam then dismissed Hridoy for 32 and sent Mushfiqur Rahim (16 off 9) back in his next over, making things trickier for Barishal.

Mayers Steps Up Again
Just like last year’s final, Kyle Mayers played a crucial role. He struck timely boundaries and sixes, keeping Barishal in the hunt. His 42-run stand with Mahmudullah proved vital. Mayers, who scored 46 off 28 balls, once again showed his value in crunch moments.

Rishad Hossain – The Hero of the Final
Despite Mayers’ efforts, Barishal still needed 20 runs from the last two overs. Rishad Hossain’s six off Binura Fernando in the 19th over eased the equation.

With eight runs needed in the final over, Rishad sealed the deal with a first-ball six off Hussain Talat. The moment he hit the winning runs, Barishal’s dugout erupted in joy. Players and staff rushed onto the field to celebrate, lifting Rishad onto their shoulders. Team owner Mizanur Rahman ran across the field in sheer delight as the entire squad soaked in the fans’ love.

Back-to-Back Glory for Barishal
Barishal became the third team in BPL history to win back-to-back titles, joining Dhaka Gladiators and Comilla Victorians. Tamim Iqbal also entered an elite club, becoming only the third captain after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Imrul Kayes to lift the trophy in consecutive seasons.

Match Summary:

Chittagong Kings: 194/3 in 20 overs