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BPL 2024-25 Kings vs Tigers Highlights: Nafay, Fernando Take Chittagong To Final After Hetmyer Fireworks

Aakash Saini

Chittagong Kings players celebrating a wicket [Source: @TSportsbd/YouTube]Chittagong Kings players celebrating a wicket [Source: @TSportsbd/YouTube]

Chittagong Kings advanced into the final of the BPL 2024-25 season by defeating Khulna Tigers in a thrilling qualifier match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Khawaja Nafay headlined a tight run-chase for the Kings to render Shimron Hetmyer’s cracking 63 in vain.

Here’s the timeline of how Chittagong Kings vs Khulna Tigers panned out in Dhaka:

Kings vs Tigers Highlights: Khulna Tigers Top-Order Crumbles On The Big Day

Winning the toss and opting to field first, fast bowler Binura Fernando seized the early momentum for Chittagong Kings by knocking over Khulna Tigers opener and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz for just two in the third over of the match. Alex Ross at number three survived just six deliveries at the crease before making his way for a duck courtesy of a sharp caught-and-bowled from an economical Al Islam (1-14).

Mohammad Naim listed four confident boundaries in his 22-ball 19 but the opening batter failed to convert his start by losing his fort to Khaled Ahmed (1-29). Afif Hossain at number four also followed suite for just eight in 14 balls by failing to read Arafat Sunny (1-10) as the Khulna Tigers reached a sluggish 42-4 at the end of the first nine overs of the match.

Kings vs Tigers Highlights: Shimron Hetmyer Airlifts Tigers With Burgeoning 63

Middle-order batters Mahidul Islam Ankon and Shimron Hetmyer led Khulna Tigers’ fighting recovery in the backend of the innings by forging 73 runs together for the fifth wicket. Ankon launched three sixes and a boundary in his 32-ball 41 before falling to an expensive Shoriful Islam (1-51) during the slog overs.

Meanwhile, Hetmyer clattered six boundaries and four huge sixes in his burgeoning 33-ball 63 to catapult Khulna Tigers to a competitive 163-6 from 20 overs.

For the Chittagong Kings, Sri Lanka import Binura Fernando unfurled the spell of the competitive innings with figures of 2-27, with top-scorer Hetmyer being the second of his two victims.

Kings vs Tigers Highlights: Khawaja Nafay Rescues Wavering Kings At The Top

Chasing 164, Chittagong Kings lost opener Parvez Hossain Emon as well as number three batter Graham Clark both to Khulna Tigers fast bowler Hasan Mahmud inside the latter’s opening spell. Tottering at 35-2 in 4.1 overs, opening batter Khawaja Nafay counterattacked by sharing a 70-run partnership with Hussain Talat (40 off 25) for the third wicket.

Nafay top-scored in the innings with 57 runs from 46 balls with four boundaries and three sixes to navigate the Kings past the 100-run mark.

Kings vs Tigers Highlights: Kings Prevail Despite Nasum Ahmed, Musfik’s Fighting Spells

Nasum Ahmed tilted the tide back in Khulna Tigers favor by picking up the wickets of Hussain Talat and Shamim Hossain in quick succession to seal figures of 2-21. Musfik Hasan further ran through the Tigers’ batting line-up by getting rid of half-centurion Khawaja Nafay and number seven Khaled Ahmed in the space of just three deliveries.

Hasan (3-32) also dismissed Shoriful Islam in a tight last over, but sizzling lower-order cameos from Arafat Sunny (18* off 13) and Al Islam (17* off 7) sealed a last-ball thriller for the Kings with two wickets to spare.