Fortune Barishal, led by Tamim Iqbal, became the first team to secure a spot in the final after a dominant victory over Chittagong Kings. In the qualifier match on Monday (February 3), Chittagong, after losing the toss, posted a total of 149 runs, thanks to a brilliant knock by Shamim Hossain. However, Barishal chased down the target comfortably with 16 balls to spare, securing a commanding 9-wicket win.
While chasing 150 runs, openers Tamim Iqbal and Towhid Hridoy started cautiously. Their opening stand yielded 55 runs before Tamim got out for 29 runs off 26 balls, caught by Khawaja Nafay off Khaled Ahmed’s delivery.
After Tamim’s departure, there were no further setbacks as Towhid Hridoy and Dawid Malan ensured a smooth victory. Barishal reached the target in 17.2 overs with 9 wickets in hand. Hridoy remained unbeaten with a stunning 82 runs off 56 balls, while Malan played a supporting role, scoring an unbeaten 34 off 22 balls.
Chittagong’s Early Collapse and Shamim’s Lone Battle
Batting first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Chittagong had a disastrous start, losing 4 wickets for just 34 runs within 5.3 overs. In the very first over, Pakistani batter Khawaja Nafay hit a boundary on the first ball but was bowled on the second delivery by Kyle Mayers.
Graham Clark also fell victim to Mayers in the third over. In the fourth over, skipper Mohammad Mithun was dismissed by Mohammad Ali, and Haider Ali also struggled, departing for just 7 runs off Ebadot Hossain’s bowling.
However, after the initial collapse, Parvez Hossain Emon and Shamim Hossain Patwary took control. They built a crucial 77-run partnership off 48 balls for the fifth wicket. The stand was broken in the 14th over when Emon was dismissed by Rishad Hossain after scoring 36 runs off 36 balls.
Following Emon’s departure, Shamim fought a lone battle, guiding Chittagong past the 140-run mark with an aggressive knock. He finally fell at 144 runs, attempting a reverse scoop off Mohammad Ali, caught by Ebadot Hossain. Before returning to the pavilion, Shamim played a brilliant innings of 79 runs off 47 balls, which included 4 sixes and 9 fours.
Mohammad Ali’s Five-Wicket Haul
For Barishal, Mohammad Ali was the standout bowler, claiming 5 wickets, with 4 of them coming in the 19th over. Kyle Mayers also contributed with 2 wickets, while Ebadot Hossain and Rishad Hossain picked up one wicket each.
With this dominant win, Fortune Barishal secured their place in the final, leaving Chittagong Kings to fight for another chance in the tournament.
