SAMSUL AREFIN KHAN

Fortune Barishal were left with a daunting task yesterday at the end of Chittagong Kings’ innings in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Mirpur, but they ended up creating history with a three-wicket victory to clinch back-to-back BPL titles.

Riding on fifties by openers Parvez Hossain Emon (78 off 49 balls, not out) and Khawaja Nafay (66 off 44 balls), Chittagong had already posted 194-3 after being sent in to bat first, and in order to chase the target, Barishal needed to break Comilla Victorians’ two-season-old record of chasing 175 runs in a BPL final.

The target could have been even bigger if Barishal’s bowlers had not brought some resistance in the last four overs, where they conceded only 31 runs. Barishal’s Pakistani pacer Mohammad Ali spent only 10 runs in overs 17 and 20, while Kyle Mayers and Ebadot Hossain went for nine and 12 runs, respectively, while bowling one over each.

On the flat surface of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where a lot was offered for the batters on the day, the target suddenly seemed very much gettable, and the way Barishal skipper Tamim Iqbal approached in the powerplay, they gained all the momentum to push for history at the jam-packed gallery -- mostly occupied by Barishal’s red jerseys.

“I thought a lot of credit goes to the bowlers who bowled in the last four overs. At one stage, it was looking like 220. As soon as we got into the dressing room, we were saying the wicket was good and they were 20 runs short,” Tamim said during the post-match presentation ceremony.

While Tamim took the attacking approach early in the run chase, his partner Towhid Hridoy seemed more focused on giving him company. Tamim, who reached his fifty off just 24 balls, put up a 76-run stand with Hridoy that set the foundation for their big run chase.

Despite losing his wicket to Shoriful Islam -- Chittagong’s standout bowling performer on the day with figures of 4-34 -- it played a catalyst role in their pursuit of Chittagong’s total, which they surpassed in the last over.

This was Tamim’s third BPL final appearance and, as in the previous two occasions, he played a significant role in helping his side sail to victory. In 2019, Tamim made an unbeaten 141 off 61 balls to help Comilla Victorians become champions, while last year, he scored a vital 39 off 26 balls and formed a 76-run opening stand with Mehedi Hasan Miraz to guide Barishal to their maiden BPL title.

With this victory, Tamim also maintained a 100 per cent record of winning in all BPL finals. “We have the power, we have the experience, and it all came together very nicely,” said Tamim, who also informed that they have planned to visit Barishal with both of their BPL trophies on February 9 after being unable to do so last season.

Chittagong skipper Mohammad Mithun also felt that they were 10–15 runs short in their innings and credited Barishal’s bowlers for their comeback.

Meanwhile, Tamim, who recently announced his international retirement, was given a befitting farewell after the final -- followed by a laser show -- by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). During the ceremony, he once again recalled his father, Iqbal Khan, whose dream was to see him represent Bangladesh.

“I’m pretty sure he would have been proud of what I have done for this country,” said Tamim, asking the fans to support only Bangladesh, not individual players.

“Please support the team. They are young, they will make mistakes -- it is your team.”