STAFF CORRESPONDENT

It went right down to the last over in the end but Rishad Hossain held his nerve as Fortune Barishal retained the BPL crown with a three-wicket win against Chittagong Kings in the final of the 11th edition at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

This BPL was one of the most controversial in recent memory, with player payment issues and match-fixing concerns making headlines. Yet, for all the controversies, the cricket on the field was able to lift the big crowds during the BPL. The final, too, was played in electric atmosphere with the gallery filled to the rafters and the game certainly lived up to expectations as Barishal chased down Chittagong’s 194.

Tamim Iqbal provided the impetus for the chase with a blistering 29-ball 54 but Shoriful Islam turned the game around in two instances with a four-wicket haul. Parvez Hossain Emon’s 78 had earlier appeared to give Chittagong the upper hand. Then Kyle Mayers played another

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