Thanks to a brilliant all-around effort by Kyle Mayers, Fortune Barishal defeated Comilla Victorians with a six-wicket victory in an exciting match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, securing their first-ever Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 title.
Mayers showcased exceptional skills both with the ball and the bat, setting the tone for Fortune Barishal's triumph. He first made a significant impact with the ball, claiming a crucial wicket and maintaining a tight line and length throughout his spell, finishing with figures of 1-26 in four overs.
Chasing Camilla's target of 154-6, Fortune Barishal displayed confidence and composure as they reached 157-4 with one over to spare. Mayers proved to be the hero with the bat, smashing a match-winning 46 runs off just 30 balls, including five fours and two sixes.
Fortune Barishal's dominance was evident as they restricted Cumilla's potent batting lineup to a modest total, with standout performances from bowlers like James Fuller and Obed McCoy.
Despite a valiant effort from Cumilla's Andre Russell, who scored a quickfire 27 off 14 balls, Fortune Barishal's disciplined bowling, particularly Mohammad Saifuddin's magnificent last over, ensured that Cumilla fell short of a formidable total.
In the chase, Fortune Barishal's captain Tamim Iqbal and Mehidy Hasan Miraz laid a solid foundation with a brisk partnership of 76 runs in just eight overs. Though Camilla's Moeen Ali struck twice to remove both set batsmen, it was Mayers who guided Fortune Barishal to victory with his aggressive strokeplay.
Not only did Fortune Barishal emerge victorious as a team, but their players also dominated the individual awards ceremony. Captain Tamim Iqbal was named the Player of the Tournament, having showcased exceptional performance throughout the season. Tamim also secured the award for the Highest Run-Getter, accumulating 492 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 35.14 and a strike rate of 127.13. His innings included three fifties, with the highest score being 71.
Meanwhile, Tamim's teammate Kyle Mayers was recognized as the Player of the Final for his outstanding all-round performance. Mayers contributed 46 runs and claimed a crucial wicket during the title-deciding match.
Here's the complete list of awards:
- Champion Team: Fortune Barishal (Prize: BDT 2 Crore)
- Runner-Up Team: Comilla Victorians (Prize: BDT 1 Crore)
- Player of The Tournament: Tamim Iqbal (Fortune Barishal) (Prize: BDT 10 Lac)
- Player of the Final Match: Kyle Mayers (Fortune Barishal) (Prize: BDT 5 Lac)
- Highest Run Getter: Tamim Iqbal (Fortune Barishal) - 492 runs (Prize: BDT 5 Lac)
- Highest Wicket Taker of the Tournament: Shoriful Islam (Chattogram) - 22 wickets (Prize: BDT 5 Lac)
- Best Fielder of the Tournament: Naim Sheikh (Dhaka) (Prize: BDT 3 Lac)
With experienced campaigners like David Miller and Mahmudullah Riyad contributing crucial runs towards the end, Fortune Barishal sealed their historic victory with six balls to spare, marking a memorable moment for the entire team, including seasoned veterans like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad who lifted the prestigious trophy for the first time in their illustrious careers.
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