MIRPUR: Tamim Iqbal’s rapid fifty and Kyle Mayer’s 46 helps Fortune Barishal to successfully defend their BPL title as they defeat Chittagong Kings by three wickets in the last over.
Put into bat first, the Kings scored 194/3 in their allocated 20 overs courtesy of some late fireworks from Graham Clark.
Chittagong Kings were off to a good start when their openers Khawaja Nafey and Parvez Hossain Emon put on a 121-run partnership for the first wicket in 12.1 overs.
Nafey was caught behind on 66 after scoring his third fifty of the season while Pervaiz Hossain kept on scoring and helped his team in reaching a strong total.
Parvez Hossain added 70 runs for the second wicket along with Clark to give their team a solid total at the end of their 20 overs. Clark smashed three sixes and two fours in his 23-ball 44.
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Clark departed in the last over while Parvez Hossain remained the top scorer with his 49-ball 78, laced with four sixes and six fours.
Mohammad Ali was the pick of bowlers who took 1/21 in his four overs while Ebadot Hossain also bagged one wicket.
Chasing 195, opening batters Iqbal and Towhid Hridoy laid a strong foundation and amassed 76 runs for the first wicket in eight overs.
Iqbal departed for a well-made 54 which included nine fours. After his departure, Fortune Barishal stumble a bit as they lost two quick wickets in the span of three overs. Hridoy and Malan fall cheaply for 32 and one run respectively.
Following the back-to-back dismissals, Mayers took the reigns of Fortune Barishal’s run chase and put together a quick-fire 34(14) runs partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim.
Rahim perished in the 12th over for 16 while Mayers did his job and amassed 46 runs. He departed after scoring 46 runs in the 17th over. His innings included three sixes and three fours.
With 12 required from two overs, Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain chipped in with a 6-ball 18 cameo which steered Fortune Barishal to their consecutive BPL title.
The bright spot in Chittagong Kings bowling was Shoriful Islam whose 4/34 went in vain.
Bangladeshi stalwart Tamim Iqbal was named Player of the Match while Khulna Tigers Mehdi Hasan Miraz bagged the Player of the Tournament award for his all-round performance.
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