Chittagong Kings edge past Khulna Tigers in a last-over thriller to reach BPL final

In a match that had all the drama and unpredictability typical of T20 cricket, Chittagong Kings held their nerve to secure a thrilling two-wicket victory over Khulna Tigers, booking their place in the BPL final.

The game, played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, swung back and forth before Chittagong's lower order chased down 15 runs in the final over to seal the win.

After being sent in to bat, Khulna Tigers got off to a wobbly start, losing openers Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Alex Ross with just 11 runs on the board inside four overs. Mohammad Naim tried to inject some momentum with a boundary-laden 19 off 13 balls, but his dismissal, along with Afif Hossain's quick exit, left Khulna reeling at 42 for 4 by the ninth over.

Enter Shimron Hetmyer, the West Indian powerhouse took his time settling in, managing just 22 off his first 21 balls. However, what followed was a display of brute force and impeccable timing.

Hetmyer exploded in the final overs, smashing 44 runs off his next 12 deliveries to finish with a blistering 66 off 33 balls. His assault included four sixes and five boundaries, particularly punishing Khaled Ahmed in the 17th over, which went for 23 runs.

Even after Hetmyer's dismissal in the 19th over, Khulna kept the scoreboard ticking. Mohammad Nawaz (5* off 2) and Jason Holder (12* off 5) provided the finishing touches, adding crucial runs that pushed Khulna to a competitive 163 for 6.

Chasing 164, Chittagong Kings had a shaky start, losing both openers with just 35 runs on the board. The pressure was mounting, but the Pakistani duo of Khawaja Nafi and Hussain Talat orchestrated a brilliant recovery. Their 70-run partnership off 42 balls steadied the innings, with Talat playing the aggressor in his quickfire 40 off 25 balls, while Nafi anchored the chase with a composed 57 off 46 balls, featuring three sixes and four boundaries.

However, once Talat departed in the 13th over, followed soon by Nafi, Chittagong's innings unraveled spectacularly. From 113 for 2, they crumbled to 130 for 7, losing five wickets for just 17 runs. Khulna's bowlers, led by the ever-reliable Jason Holder, clawed their way back into the match, applying relentless pressure in the middle overs.

With 15 runs required off the final over and only two wickets in hand, the odds were stacked against Chittagong. But Aliss Al Islam and Arafat Sunny showcased nerves of steel.

Facing national pacer Shariful Islam, they rotated the strike smartly and capitalised on loose deliveries. A crucial boundary from Nawaz and a last-over flourish helped them cross the finish line with just a ball to spare.