Fortune Barishal and Rangpur Riders face off in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 second qualifier on Wednesday evening. The winner of this high-stakes clash will secure a spot in the March 1 final against the Comilla Victorians.

Both Barishal and Rangpur have experienced fluctuations throughout the league phase, but a victory in Qualifier 2 requires them to play at their absolute best.

Barishal enters the playoffs with momentum, having defeated the Chattogram Challengers in the Eliminator. They finished third in the league stage.

Rangpur, on the other hand, suffered two consecutive losses to Comilla – one during the league phase and the other in Qualifier 1. This puts them under slightly more pressure than their opponents.

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The outcome of this match, and who will ultimately face Comilla in the final, depends significantly on the performance of both teams' local players.

Barishal's success has been heavily driven by veteran opener and captain, Tamim Iqbal, who is the second-highest run-scorer in this BPL season with 443 runs, trailing only Tawhid Hridoy who massed 447 runs.  Mohammad Saifuddin has been their standout bowler, claiming 12 wickets in 7 matches.

Barishal's foreign recruits and other key players will need to contribute significantly for them to secure a place in the final.

For Rangpur, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan have spearheaded their bowling attack, and Hasan Mahmud has provided additional support.

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Their Achilles heel is their batting lineup, particularly their top order. Following Babar Azam's departure due to other commitments, Rangpur has struggled for consistent starts. Their lack of a batter with 300-plus runs this BPL highlights this issue (seven batters from other teams have achieved this milestone).

Regardless of who wins Qualifier 2, the match promises to be a thrilling spectacle for BPL fans who flocked in droves around the stadium gates in Mirpur hours before the match. For whoever wins Qualifier 2, the final on March 1 will be tough going for them due to Comilla's history of winning every time they've reached the final.