Shamim Hossain's blistering 20-ball half-century propelled Rangpur Riders to a challenging total in what looked like an unlikely finish just two overs prior.
Shamim's powerful knock guided the Riders to 149 for seven in 20 overs against Fortune Barishal in the second qualifier of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Wednesday.
The winner of this match will advance to the March 1 final to face the Cumilla Victorians.
Rangpur struggled early, reaching only 112 runs with three wickets remaining after 18 overs. However, Shamim's explosive 19th over against Obed McCoy changed the game. He smashed 26 runs, including three sixes and two fours, single-handedly boosting the Riders to a competitive total.
While Shamim's late-innings heroics were the highlight, the rest of the Riders' batting lineup faltered. The top three batters contributed a mere 11 runs, and the following three added only 43.
Shamim remained unbeaten on 59, with James Neesham the second-highest scorer at 28.
Fortune Barishal's bowlers shined, with James Fuller taking three wickets and Mohammad Saifuddin claiming two.