Chittagong Kings clinched a dramatic last-ball win against Khulna Tigers in the second qualifier of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Wednesday in Dhaka, securing their place in the final.
The Kings triumphed by two wickets in a nerve-wracking chase, setting up a showdown against Fortune Barishal on February 7 at the same venue.
After winning the toss, Chittagong opted to bowl first and made early inroads into the Khulna batting lineup. Despite the initial setbacks, Khulna gradually built their innings, finishing strong with a late flourish. In the last five overs, they added 76 runs to push their total beyond 150, eventually posting 163.
Shimron Hetmyer led Khulna�s charge with a commanding 63, while Mahidul Islam Ankon contributed 41 off 32 balls, hitting one four and three sixes. Chittagong�s Sri Lankan pacer Binura Fernando was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets.
In response, opener Khawaja Nafay anchored Chittagong�s innings with a crucial 57 off 46 deliveries, while Hussain Talat kept the chase alive with a brisk 40 off 25 balls.
With 15 runs needed in the final over, Chittagong held their nerve. Alis Al Islam struck two crucial boundaries, including one off the last ball, while Shoriful Islam also contributed a vital four. Musfik Hasan bowled the tense last over but couldn�t prevent Chittagong from reaching 164 for eight.
For Khulna, Hasan Mahmud and Musfik Hasan picked up three wickets each, but their efforts fell short.
While Fortune Barishal has previously won the BPL title, Chittagong Kings will be aiming for their first-ever championship when they face off in the grand finale on February 7.
