Rajshahi thump Chattogram by 63 runs to lift BPL title

Rajshahi Warriors opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim capped a brilliant night with a ton in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 final, guiding his side to a 63-run win over Chattogram Royals in Mirpur on Friday.

Rajshahi secured their second title, following Rajshahi Kings’ triumph in 2020, while Tanzid became just the third player to score a hundred in a BPL final, after Chris Gayle and Tamim Iqbal.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the southpaw was careful early, but the first signs of intent came against the best that the tournament had to throw this season, Shoriful Islam. A swivel pull over square-leg for six was characteristic of his strokeplay, but this time he kept up his aggression through to the latter end of the innings to give Rajshahi the upper hand.

Having struck just one fifty in his 12 innings ahead of the final, Tanzid had been carrying a burden. However, the manner in which he dispatched Shoriful again through extra cover for four showed he was intent on making his presence in the middle count. The 25-year-old would follow up with a maximum against Chattogram skipper Mahedi Hasan, another impact Powerplay bowler, as Rajshahi reached 40 for no loss after the Powerplay.

He would go after Mahedi again in his second over, this time producing back-to-back sixes -- one through deep midwicket and the other through extra cover -- to really put pressure on a Chattogram attack which had put opponents this season in a tight leash.

Tanzid’s fifty came in 29 deliveries, with six sixes already under his belt. Sahibzada Farhan’s departure after a run-a-ball 30 brought an end to an 82-run opening stand, and Tanzid went on to get a reprieve on 54 when dropped by Mukidul Mugdho.

He added 47 more runs for the third-wicket stand with Kane Williamson, who struck a brisk 15-ball 24. In the 19th over, Tanzid finally reached three figures with a push towards point for a single. Raising his bat and helmet, arms outstretched, he earned full admiration from the crowd, having set a new milestone as the Bangladesh batter with the most BPL tons. He finished on exactly 100 as Rajshahi posted 174 for four.

Shoriful claimed two wickets but also became the highest wicket-taker in a single BPL edition with 26 scalps.

Chasing 175, Chattogram never got going. Binura Fernando struck early, removing Mohammad Naim and Mahmudul Hasan Joy inside three overs, and finished with a devastating four for nine as the losing side crumbled on 111.