The Chittagong Kings secured their place in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25 season with a thrilling two-wicket victory over the Khulna Tigers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on February 5, 2025. This electrifying clash saw the Kings chase down 164 runs, largely thanks to the standout performances of Khawaja Nafay and Aliss Al Islam.
Chittagong, aiming for their first BPL title since 2013, found themselves facing early trouble. After losing opener Parvez Hossain Emon and Graham Clark cheaply to Hasan Mahmud, the team was precariously positioned at 35-2 by the fourth over. It was then Khawaja Nafay, with excellent support from Hussain Talat, who turned the tide with a remarkable 70-run partnership, stabilizing the Kings' innings.
Nafay emerged as the top scorer for the Kings, making 57 runs off 46 balls and setting the stage for a potentially smooth chase. Nonetheless, Khulna fought back fiercely. Their bowlers, led by Mahmud, began clawing back wickets, eventually putting the Kings under pressure. Just when it seemed like Khulna might claim the upper hand, Aliss Al Islam entered the fray.
Earlier, the Khulna Tigers, having opted to bat first, got off to a rocky start after losing their captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz early. They lost four wickets for merely 42 runs, with Chittagong's pacer Binura Fernando causing havoc with his two wickets, including the key scalp of Miraz for just 2 runs.
It was only with Shimron Hetmyer's explosive innings—63 runs made off just 33 deliveries—that Khulna managed to post a respectable total of 163-6. Hetmyer, supported by Mahidul Islam Ankon, formed the backbone of Khulna's recovery, establishing a solid fifth-wicket partnership of 73 runs.
While Khulna struggled initially, the latter part of their innings saw Hetmyer hammer two sixes and six fours, granting the Tigers hope before his dismissal at the hands of Fernando.
Despite the early wickets taken by Khulna and pressure mounting on the Kings, Nafay and Talat's response was measured and confident, setting the foundation for the chase. Talat contributed with his own valuable 40 runs off 25 balls, pushing the Kings toward the target.
Yet, just as Chittagong seemed to be cruising to victory, the innings took another dramatic turn. Khulna’s Nasum Ahmed began to run through the middle order, dismissing both Talat and Shamim Hossain to spark panic and stall the Kings' progress.
With Chittagong's innings spiraling as they lost five wickets adding only 25 runs, it seemed the match might slip away. The stage was set for the heroics of Aliss Al Islam. After sustaining an ankle injury during his innings, he returned to the crease for the final over when Chittagong needed 15 runs.
Cue the drama—Arafat Sunny began the over with seven runs off the first three balls, setting the stage for Al Islam to take up the chase. Following Shoriful Islam’s dismissal, Chittagong found themselves needing four runs off just one ball. Al Islam's triumph came with the poise of hitting the ball over cover to clinch the victory, much to the jubilant celebration of his teammates.
Al Islam’s last-ball boundary not only sealed the thrilling win for Chittagong—who finished at 164-8—but also earned him the coveted Man of the Match award.
This victory has catapulted Chittagong Kings to the final, where they are set to face the defending champions, Fortune Barishal. The triumph is sweet for Chittagong, marking their first entry to the final since their last title run over a decade ago. The stakes are high, and as they stand on the brink of reclaiming glory, fans eagerly await the final showdown.
Notable performances throughout the qualifier included Khawaja Nafay’s match-leading 57, Aliss Al Islam’s pivotal last-minute heroics, and Binura Fernando's economical bowling which earned him figures of 2-27. The score of 163 set by Khulna showcased the fight of Hetmyer and Ankon, whose resilience took their team back from the clutches of defeat.
With the final looming, excitement buzzes around the Chittagong Kings’ camp as they prepare to battle for the BPL trophy once again.