A captain’s knock from Mahedi Hasan has propelled the Chattogram Royals into the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), securing a thrilling six-wicket victory over the Rajshahi Warriors in the first Qualifier on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 134, Chattogram crossed the finish line with three balls to spare, thanks to Mahedi’s unbeaten cameo and a solid top-order performance. Needing 9 runs off the final over, Mahedi took charge against bowler Ripon Mondol.

After a single on the first ball, the skipper hit a six over mid-off on the second delivery, effectively sealing the game. He finished the match on the third ball with a couple of runs, remaining unbeaten on 19 off just 9 balls.

Earlier in the chase, Chattogram’s Mirza Baig led the innings with a crucial 45, the highest score for his side. Despite a sluggish start from opener Mohammad Naim, who consumed 38 balls for his 30 runs, timely boundaries from Hasan Nawaz kept the Royals in the hunt.

Before his heroics with the bat, Mahedi delivered a match-defining spell with the ball. He claimed two key wickets for just 20 runs, dismissing Rajshahi captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim in consecutive deliveries in the ninth over, narrowly missing a hat-trick.

Rajshahi, who opted to bat first, struggled to build momentum. Opener Tanzid Hasan top-scored with 41, while a late blitz from Sakib Saklain helped them post a respectable 133.

However, the top order failed to fire, with key players like Sahirzada Farhan and Jimmy Neesham unable to convert their starts. Pacer Shoriful Islam continued his fine form, taking his season tally to 24 wickets, just one shy of Taskin Ahmed’s record. While Chattogram celebrates their spot in the final, Rajshahi remains in contention and will face the Sylhet Titans in the second Qualifier.