The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 witnessed new champions as Fortune Barishal trounced Comilla Victorians by six wickets in the final match of the countrys most prestigious cricketing event at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.
Winning the toss, Barishal opted to field and invited Victorians to bat first. CVs faced an early setback with Sunil Narine, Towhid Hridoy, Liton Das, and Johnson Charles departing early. Narine managed six runs, Liton 16, while Hridoy and Charles were both dismissed for 15 runs each.
Local boy Mahidul Islam Ankon and Englishman Moeen Ali then took charge, but not for long as Moeen was run out for three after a direct throw from Mehidy Miraz found the stumps before Moeen reached the crease. Ankon, the leading scorer for Victorians that day, then paired with Jaker Ali before departing for 38 off 35 balls.
Jaker remained not out on 20 off 23, but a late fireworks display from Caribbean giant Andre Russell, who remained unbeaten on 27 off 14 with four boundaries, helped Victorians post a decent total of 154 runs for six wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
James Kerr Fuller claimed two wickets for Fortune Barishal, while Kyle Mayers, Mohammad Saifuddin, and Obed McCoy shared one wicket each.
In pursuit of 155 runs to win, Barishal got a steady start from skipper Tamim Iqbal and makeshift opener Mehidy Miraz as they amassed 76 runs together before Tamims departure for 39 off 26 balls with three boundaries and as many sixes.
The dashing opener became the leading scorer of the event with 492 runs next to his name. Miraz followed his senior partner scoring 29 off 26 balls with one four and a couple of sixes.
Mayers and Mushfiqur Rahim further consolidated the win as Mayers hammered the CVs bowlers accumulating 46 off 30 balls, while Mushfiqur managed 13 runs.
Mahmudullah and David Miller wrapped up the game remaining unbeaten on seven and eight runs respectively, as FBs reached 157 for four wickets with six balls to spare.
Moeen Ali and Mustafizur Rahman notched two wickets each for Victorians.
Comilla had reached the final four times before and never conceded a defeat until this one, while Barishal had never won a final in their three previous appearances before 2024.
