Match Center

The 2024/25 Bangladesh Premier League has reached its critical playoff stages, with Qualifier 1 featuring a clash between the top two teams in the tournament. Table-toppers Fortune Barishal will take on the second-placed Chittagong Kings at Dhaka's prestigious Sher E Bangla Stadium. The final league match proved decisive in setting up this encounter, as the Chittagong Kings secured second position by defeating the league leaders Fortune Barishal, creating an immediate rematch between these two powerhouses. The Chittagong Kings' crucial victory not only secured them second place but also relegated Rangpur Riders to the Eliminator. This top-two finish proves particularly valuable in the playoff structure, as both Fortune Barishal and Chittagong Kings now have a safety net - even if they lose Qualifier 1, they'll have another opportunity to reach the final through Qualifier 2. In a revealing turn of events, Fortune Barishal's seemingly invincible chasing record finally met its match. After orchestrating five consecutive successful chases out of six wins, Tamim Iqbal's side tasted their first defeat while batting second. However, this unexpected setback might have arrived at an opportune moment, serving as a humbling reminder just before the high-stakes knockout phase of the tournament. Fortune Barishal encountered multiple firsts in their final league game - not only did they suffer their first defeat while chasing, but they also conceded over 200 runs for the first time this season. However, the way they have excelled in both facets of the game this season always makes them a tough team to beat. With in-form players like Tamim himself along with Dawid Malan and the most experienced Musketeers in the form of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, this batting unit always poses a genuine threat. Meanwhile, the Chittagong Kings enter Qualifier 1 riding a wave of confidence. Their victory over the table-toppers has not only boosted their morale but also presented them with the opportunity of a direct path to the final. Adding to their momentum is an impressive run of form, with the team carrying a four-match winning streak into this crucial encounter. The Chittagong Kings' batting has clicked decently as a cohesive unit, spearheaded by Graham Clark throughout the season, and Parvez Hasan Emon's impressive performances with the bat lately have further injected the confidence. Their strength lies in how their middle order has consistently capitalized on the strong foundations laid by the top order. While the bowlers too, have performed decently as Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Aliss Al Islam have been consistent wicket-takers for the side with a minimum of ten wickets for all three of them. It ended 1-1 in the league stage between these two sides earlier in the season but can the Kings prevent Barishal or will the Tamim Iqbal led defending champions put one more step forward in their title defence? A highly anticipated clash on the cards, folks!