BPL 2025 Qualifier 2: Chittagong Kings Edge Past Khulna Tigers in Last-Ball Thriller to Reach Final

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BPL 2025 Qualifier 2: In a dramatic finish to Qualifier 2 of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025, Chittagong Kings secured their place in the final with a thrilling four-wicket victory over Khulna Tigers.

The match, played at a packed stadium, saw an incredible climax as Aliss Al Islam struck a boundary off the final ball to seal the win for his side following some final-over drama that saw the match hero briefly retire hurt before coming out to bat for the last ball.

Chasing 164 for victory, Chittagong Kings faced a challenging situation as wickets tumbled at crucial moments. Khawaja Nafay anchored the innings early on with a crucial 57-run knock, finding support from Hussain Talat, who contributed 40 runs. Their 70-run partnership kept the chase alive, but Khulna Tigers' bowlers struck back, with Mushfik Rahman (2/17) and Hasan Mahmud (3/28) applying pressure in the death overs.

The Kings stumbled after losing their captain Mohammad Mithun (7) and Khaled Ahmed (0) in quick succession, leaving them needing 34 runs in the final 17 balls. With the match hanging in the balance, Aliss Al Islam, coming in at No. 9, played a pivotal role. He smashed 10 runs off two balls to keep the chase on track before an unfortunate injury forced him to retire hurt.

Arafat Sunny kept the Kings in contention, scoring 17 not out, while Shoriful Islam walked in at No. 10 with just a handful of balls remaining. However, Shoriful was dismissed after a boundary, leaving the Kings needing four runs off the last ball. In an extraordinary turn of events, Aliss Al Islam returned to the crease despite his injury and lofted the final delivery over cover-point for a match-winning boundary.

His heroics not only secured the Kings' place in the BPL 2025 final but also earned him the Man of the Match award. Khulna Tigers, despite posting a competitive 163/6, will rue their missed opportunities. Their innings was powered by Shimron Hetmyer's explosive 63 off 29 balls, alongside Mahidul Islam Ankon's steady 41.

The Kings will now prepare for the final against table toppers Fortune Barishal, who earlier defeated Kings in Qualifier 1 two days ago. The final will be played at the same venue as today on February 7 (Friday).