In the riveting clash at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka, the tenth edition of BPL 2024 is witnessing an intriguing turn of events. Dhaka, having clinched three titles since the league’s inception in 2012, and Chattogram, still in pursuit of their maiden championship, are off to an auspicious start this season after languishing at the bottom of the table in the previous edition.

In their recent encounter, Dhaka showcased an impressive chase, successfully pursuing a target of 147 runs in 19.3 overs. The partnership between Mohammed Naim (52 runs) and Gunathilaka (41 runs) set the tone, with Irfan Suffar and De Silva contributing vital cameos in the lower order. Shoriful Islam spearheaded the bowling attack, securing three crucial wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and C de Silva provided valuable support.

Chattogram, on the other hand, rode on the heroics of Shadahat Hossian (56 runs) and Najibullah (61 runs), forging a blistering 121-run partnership off just 68 balls to chase down a formidable target of 180 runs. Avishka Fernando’s cameo of 39 runs at the top bolstered their pursuit. However, their bowlers faced a daunting task, conceding 177 runs for the loss of just two wickets. Nizamuddin and Curtis Campher managed to scalp a wicket each, but the rest of the bowling unit struggled.

As the action shifts to Dhaka’s iconic stadium, the pitch is anticipated to be slightly slow with some assistance for spinners, though variable bounce may not be a significant factor. The weather forecast predicts bright and sunny conditions, encouraging both teams to adopt an aggressive approach, given the recent trend of successful chases in the league. With an expected balance between bat and ball, the average scores are projected to fall within the range of 160-180 runs.

Fans eagerly await a captivating showdown, anticipating whether Dhaka can maintain their positive momentum or if Chattogram will capitalise on their newfound form to secure a vital victory.