MIRPUR: Mirza Baig and Aamer Jamal starred as Chattogram Royals sealed a place in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 final with a six-wicket victory over Rajshahi Warriors here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, on Tuesday.
Set mere 134 to chase in Qualifier 1, Royals hit the winning runs on the third ball of the final over.
Mirza Baig and Mohammad Naim laid a strong foundation with a 64-run stand in 11.3 overs.
Naim 30 from 38 included three fours.
Despite the wicket, Chattogram Royal kept cruising as the Pakistani duo of Hasan Nawaz and Mirza Baig stitched a 34-run partnership, which brought the total to 98 in 15.3 overs.
Despite the wickets, Baig held the innings together and brought his side near the finishing line.
He eventually departed after scoring 45 from 47 balls with the help of four boundaries.
With nine required of the final over, Royals skipper Mahedi Hasan smashed a six and took a double run to take his side into the final. He remained unbeaten on 19 from nine balls.
For Rajshahi Warriors, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain scalped two wickets.
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Earlier, put into bat first, Rajshahi Warriors batting lineup faltered under pressure and were skittled for 133 at the end of their 20 overs.
Sahibzada Farhan and Tanzid Hasan put on a 30-run partnership for the opening wicket in 5.3 overs.
Farhan was caught after scoring 21 off 19, which included a six and two fours.
However, it was Mahedi Hasan’s back-to-back strikes on successive deliveries that turned the game on its head. The spinner first snared Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck and followed up the wicket with the captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made eight.
As a result, Warriors were reduced to 49-3 in 8.4 overs.
Despite wickets tumbling around him, Tanzid kept his head cool, but Hasan Nawaz ended his resistance in the 14th over.
He departed after top-scoring for his side with 41 off 37, striking three fours and a six.
Aamer Jamal, meanwhile, cut through the lower order with two wickets as Abdul Gaffar Saqlain hit a quick-fire 32 from 15 to take his side to a competitive total.
The right-hander’s innings included three sixes and two fours.
For Chattogram Royal, Aamer Jamal bowled three overs and picked up two wickets while giving away 27. Mahedi Hasan also managed to pick two, while the rest of the five bowlers also picked one apiece.
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