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MIRPUR: James Neesham’s brisk knock and Kane Williamson’s composed innings, complemented by Binura Fernando’s four-wicket haul propelled Rajshahi Warriors into the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 final with a victory over Sylhet Titans here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Set 166, Titans’ batting lineup struggled and could eventually muster 153-8 at the end of their innings.
Binura Fernando inflicted a poor start on Titans as they lost the opener, Zakir Hasan and Ariful Islam for a duck.
As a result, Sylhet Titans were reduced to 7-2 in 2.4 overs.
Following the early hiccup, Parvez Hossain Emon and Sam Billings put the chase back on track with a 69-run partnership.
The duo brought the total to 76 until the 10th over of the game when a miscommunication between both batters resulted in a runout.
The well-set batter Emon had to go after scoring 48 from 34 balls, which included two sixes and five fours. With this wicket, Rajshahi Warriors sniffed an opening.
The game turned on its head in the 12th and 13th over when Moeen Ali and Sam Billings were sent back to pavilion. Moeen made seven while Billings made 37 from 28, featuring three fours and a six.
As a result, Sylhet Titans slumped to 107-5 in 13.2 overs with Afif Hossain and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the crease.
The duo tried to arrest the slide, adding a brief 19-run partnership. Yet they were dismissed in quick succession, with the asking rate soaring.
Therefore, with wickets tumbling at the end, Sylhet Titans required 24 off the last over. But Binura Fernando held his nerve and conceded just 11 runs to guide Rajshahi into the final.
For Rajshahi Warriors, Binura Fernando starred with the ball and picked up a four-wicket haul.
Earlier, put into bat first, Rajshahi Warriors scored 165-9 at the end of their 20 overs.
Sahibzada Farhan and Tanzid Hasan provided a rapid start, adding 41 in 4.4 overs. Farhan hit four boundaries and a six before getting caught.
Despite the wicket, Tanzid kept the scoreboard ticking until his departure in the sixth over. He made 32 off 15, striking four sixes and a four.
After a solid start, Rajshahi Warriors stuttered in the middle as they lost three quick wickets in the ninth and 10th over.
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (7) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0) were dismissed on consecutive deliveries, which was followed by another wicket of SM Meherob (0).
As a result, Rajshahi Warriors were reduced to 80-5 in 10.3 overs.
With the Warriors in dire straits, the New Zealand duo of Williamson and James Neesham held the innings together with a 77-run partnership.
Kane Williamson played the second fiddle while Neesham remained the core aggressor.
The pair took the total to 157 in 18.5 overs as Neesham departed after scoring 44 from 26 balls, striking two sixes and four boundaries.
Meanwhile, Williamson remained unbeaten on 45 from 38 with the help of two sixes and a boundary.
For Sylhet Titans, Salman Irshad topped the wicket charts with three wickets to his name.
The tournament final will be played between Chattogram Royals and Rajshahi Warriors on 23 January at the same venue.
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