In a nail-biting encounter at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Rajshahi Warriors secured their place in the BPL 2025-26 final by defeating Sylhet Titans by 12 runs in Qualifier-2. The summit clash against Chattogram Royals is slated for January 23.
Batting first after losing the toss, Warriors navigated early promise into a defendable 165/9. Sahibzada Farhan (26 off 21) and Tanjid Hasan (32 off 15) lit up the powerplay with 41 runs, the latter’s four sixes setting an explosive tone.
A middle-order collapse saw five wickets tumble for 80, but Kane Williamson’s anchoring 45* off 38 balls and James Neesham’s counter-attacking 44 off 26 revived hopes. Their 77-run partnership proved pivotal. Titans’ bowlers struck back, with Salman Irshad (3 wickets), Nasum Ahmed (2), and Mehdi Hasan (2) keeping it tight.
Sylhet’s chase began disastrously at 7/2, but Parvez Hossain Emon’s gritty 48 and Sam Billings’ 37 forged a 68-run stand that kept them in the hunt. Yet, momentum swung decisively towards Warriors as Binura Fernando dismantled the innings with a match-defining 4/19.
Fernando’s heroics earned him Player of the Match, underscoring Warriors’ balanced attack. This victory highlights their resilience, positioning them as favorites in the final against Royals in what promises to be a blockbuster conclusion to BPL 2025-26.