United News of Bangladesh

Chittagong Kings edged out Khulna Tigers in the last ball of the second qualifier to march to the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Wednesday in Dhaka. Chittagong won the match by two wickets in the last ball of the innings. In the final set for February 7 at the same venue, Chittagong will now take on Fortune Barishal who won the first qualifier to advance to the final. Chittagong won the toss in their final attempt to make the final and opted to bowl first. They picked up quick wickets early in the innings. But Khulna managed to build their innings slowly. In the last five overs, Khulna posted 76 runs which helped them pass the 150-run mark, and ended up on 163. While Hetmyer smashed 63, Mahidul Islam Ankon was their second-best run scorer with 41 off 32 balls with one four and three sixes. For Chittagong, Binura Fernando, a Sri Lankan left-arm pacer, took two wickets. In response, Chittagong's innings was anchored by opener Khawaja Nafay, who scored a solid 57 from 46 deliveries. Hussain Talat also scored 40 off 25 balls to keep the Kings alive in the contest. Chittagong Kings need 164 to book a place in BPL final  In the last over of the innings, the Kings needed 15 runs to seal the game. They scored exactly this run and marched to the final. Alis Al Islam hit two fours including one in the last ball, and Shoriful Islam also scored a four to seal the game for them. Musfik Hasan bowled the last over, but failed to contain 14 runs. Kings ended the match scoring 164 for eight. For Khulna, Hasan Mahmud and Musfik took three wickets each, but their efforts went in vain. While Barishal won the title once, it will be Kings’ first title if they can beat Barishal in the final on February 7.

Chittagong Kings will battle with Khulna Tigers in Qualifier -2 match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket on Wednesday (February 5). The match will kick-off at 6:30 pm at the home of Bangladesh Cricket-- Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The winners of the match will earn the rights to play in the final against defending champions Fortune Barishal on February 7 at the same venue. Tamim Iqbal –led Fortune Barishal reached the final of the ongoing seven-team BPL for the 2nd consecutive times crushing Chittagong Kings by nine wickets with 16 balls remaining in the Qualifier-1 Monday evening. National all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz-led Khulna Tigers stayed in the title race eliminating Rangpur Riders also by nine wickets in the Eliminator on Monday afternoon On completion of 12 league basis matches earlier, Fortune Barisal finished top securing 18 points with net run rate of 1.302 while Chittagong Kings became 2nd collecting 16 points with net run rate of 1.395 to play in the Qualifiers -1. Rangpur Riders was placed 3rd also with 16 points with net run rate of 0.596 while Khulna Tigers finished 4th securing 12 points having a run rate of 0184 to play in the eliminators. BPL Cricket: Fortune Barishal will play Chittagong Kings in Qualifier 1 After the league matches, both the Chittagong Kings and Rangpur Riders have secured 16 points each, but, Chittagong Kings finished 2nd to reach qualifiers-1 by virtue of better net run rate and  Rangpur Riders went down to the 3rd slot to play in the eliminator. Three other teams of the seven-team BPL —Durbar Rajshahi (12 Pts), Dhaka Capitals (6 Pts) and and Sylher Strikers (4 Pts) –were eliminated from the league.

Khulna Tigers, riding on Mohammad Naim’s century, keep their hope alive to reach the play-off stage of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket with one match to spare beating Rangpur Riders by 46 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday. Despite of the day’s 4th consecutive defeat, Rangpur Riders reached the best two team’s “qualifiers” from the seven-team league alongwith league leader Fortune Barishal securing 16 and 18 points respectively, playing 12 and 11 matches. Khulna Tigers have secured 10 points from 11 matches to stay in the race and will play their remaining match with lowly Dhaka Capitals on February 1. BPL Cricket: Fortune Barishal take solo lead to reach qualifiers crushing Dhaka Capitals by 5 wickets Chittagong Kings and Durbar Rajshahi are ahead of Khulna Tigers collecting 12 points each playing 10 and 12 matches respectively.  However, Chittagonmg Kings playing lowly Sylhet Strikers Thursday evening and will face league leader Fortune Barisal on February 1. In the day’s do or die match, Khulna Tigers batted first after winning the toss and piled up a huge total of 220 runs for 4 in stipulated 20 overs featuring a brilliant century by opener Mohammad Naim. Mohammad Naim hammered 111 runs off just 62 balls featuring seven four and eight sixes and was adjudged the player of the match. Besides, William Bosisto (36), Mahidul Islam Ankon (29), captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (21), and Alex Ross (12) were the other notable scorers for Khulna Tigers. BPL Cricket: Chittagong Kings almost assures play-off berth beating Rangpur Riders Akif Javed, Iftikar Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan took one wicket each  In reply, Rangpur Riders were forced to fold their innings at 174 for 9 in quota 20 overs with national colored opener Soumya Sarkar contributing the team highest 74 runs off 48 balls hitting six four and five sixes. Besides, Mahedi Hasan (27),. Iftikar Ahmed (19) , Mohammad Saiffun (18), Rakibul Hasan 14) were main scorers for Rangpur Riders reaching double digit runs. Musfik Hasan grabbed three wicket for 24 runs while Mohammad Newas took two for 8 runs.   

Mid-table Durbar Rajshahi  forced League leader Rangpur Riders to concede first defeat in the seven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket beating them by 24 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday. Despite the day’s maiden defeat, Rangpur Riders maintained their top slot in the league intact securing 16 points from nine matches with eight wins and one defeat while middle rated Durbar Rajshahi are still struggling for the qualifiers with eight points from ten encounters. Sent into bat first in the day’s match, Durbar Rajshahi piled up a moderate 170 for 9 in 20 overs with middle order Yasir Ali quick-firing 60 runs off 32 deliveries hitting two four and six sixes. Later Yasir was adjudged most valuable player of the match by Cricinfo. Opener Sabbir Hossain (39), one down Anamul Haque Bijoy (34), another opener Mohammad Haris (19) were the other notable batters to reach the double figures. BPL: Rajshahi beat Sylhet as Sunzamul takes three wickets Akif Javed and Khurshdil Shah grabbed three wickets each conceding 23 and 31 runs respectively. In reply, Rangpur Riders were bundled out for 146 runs in 19.2 overs with one down Saif Hasan making 29-ball 43 runs featuring five fours and two sixes. Nurul Hasan Shohan fired a captain knock of 41 runs off 26 balls hitting four fours and two sixes, bowling all rounder  Mohammad Saifuddin  made 14-ball 23 runs including two fours and a six while and Khurhdil Shah made 13-ball 14 runs featuring a six, were the main contributors for Rangpur Riders. Ryan Buri of Rajshahi claimed four wickets 22 runs and was adjudged player of the match while SM Meherob and Taskin Ahmed took two wickets each giving away 19 and 20 runs respectively.

Dhaka Dominators crashed to a heavy defeat against Chattogram Challengers in their third Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match Saturday. At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, home team Chattogram won the match by eight wickets, riding on Afif Hossain and Darwish Rasooli's match-winning knocks. In the last 24 balls, Chattogram needed 39 runs to seal the match. Darwish then stepped up to the plate, smashing Al Amin Hossain for three sixes in the 17th over. Read: Shakib guides Barishal to 3rd BPL 2023 win In the next over, the Afghan batter hit Taskin Ahmed for two fours and one six, ensuring the victory for Chattogram in style. Dhaka batted first after winning the toss. Mizanur Rahman scored 28 off 33 balls, with three fours, but Dhaka's innings was largely built on Usman Ghani's 33-ball 47 of two fours and four sixes. Also, Nasir Hossain and Ariful Haque scored 30 and 29, respectively, as Dhaka finished at 158/6 in 20 overs. Nihaduzzaman was the pick of the bowlers for Chattogram, taking two wickets for 23 runs. Chasing 159, Chattogram lost Al-Amin in the first over, but Usman Khan scored 22 off 21 balls. Afif remained unbeaten on 69 off 52 balls, with seven fours and a six. Darwish scored a quick-fire 56 off 33 balls, with three fours and four sixes, to reach the target of 159 in just 17.4 overs. Read: Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup: Bangladesh upset Australia by 7 wickets Afif and Darwish had a 103-run stand in the third wicket partnership. Arafat Sunny took the only wicket for Dhaka. It was the second win for Chattogram in four matches and the second consecutive defeat for Dhaka in three matches.