The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 is heading towards its grand finale, as Comilla Victorians and Fortune Barishal are set to lock horns on March 1, 2024, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. The two teams have been the most impressive and consistent sides in the tournament, and have earned their place in the final with some splendid performances. Here is a preview of the BPL 2024 final, including the match prediction, the dream11 team, the fantasy tips, and the pitch report.
Match details
The BPL 2024 final between Comilla Victorians and Fortune Barishal will start at 6:00 PM IST/ 6:30 PM local time. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network in India, and on the Gazi TV network in Bangladesh. The match will also be live-streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website, and on the Rabbithole app and website.
Road to the final
Comilla Victorians have been the dominant force in the BPL 2024, topping the points table with 18 wins out of 23 matches. They have scored the most runs (1027) and taken the most wickets (121) in the league stage, showcasing their all-round brilliance. They have also been led superbly by their captain and wicketkeeper Litton Das, who has scored 421 runs at an average of 35.08 and a strike rate of 142.62. He has been well supported by the likes of Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Tanvir Islam, who have all contributed with both bat and ball. Comilla Victorians made a direct entry into the semi-finals, where they thrashed the defending champions Patna Pirates by 16 runs, thanks to a superb knock of 72 by Moeen Ali and a four-wicket haul by Tanvir Islam.
Fortune Barishal have been the surprise package of the BPL 2024, finishing fifth in the points table with 12 wins out of 23 matches. They have scored the second-most runs (1001) and taken the third-most wickets (115) in the league stage, proving their mettle in both departments. They have also been led admirably by their captain and opener Tamim Iqbal, who has scored 387 runs at an average of 32.25 and a strike rate of 134.02. He has been ably assisted by the likes of Kyle Mayers, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Mohammad Saifuddin, who have all performed well in crucial situations. Fortune Barishal had to play two eliminators to reach the semi-finals, where they beat the Gujarat Giants by 17 runs and the Jaipur Pink Panthers by four runs, thanks to a brilliant all-round display by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored 38 runs and took three wickets.
Head-to-head record
Comilla Victorians and Fortune Barishal have faced each other four times in the BPL history, with the former winning three times and the latter winning once. The Victorians have scored 146 runs and conceded 125 runs against the Barishal, having a positive run rate of 0.84. The Victorians have also won both the matches against the Barishal in the BPL 2024 season, by nine runs and eight runs, with Litton Das and Moeen Ali being the top scorers for them.
Pitch report
The pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka is expected to be a balanced one, offering assistance to both the batsmen and the bowlers. The average first innings score at this venue in the BPL 2024 is 162, and the average second innings score is 155. The team batting first has won 13 matches, while the team chasing has won 10 matches. The weather forecast for the match day is clear and sunny, with no chances of rain. The temperature is expected to be around 29 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is expected to be around 40%.
Match prediction
Based on the current form and the head-to-head record, Comilla Victorians are the favourites to win the BPL 2024 final against Fortune Barishal. The Victorians have a more balanced and experienced side, and have the momentum and confidence of winning the semi-final convincingly. The Barishal, on the other hand, have a more dependent and inexperienced side, and have the fatigue and pressure of playing two eliminators and a close semi-final. However, the Barishal cannot be taken lightly, as they have shown their fighting spirit and resilience throughout the tournament, and have some match-winners in their ranks. The final is expected to be a close and thrilling contest, with the Victorians having a slight edge over the Barishal.
Dream11 team
Wicketkeeper: Litton Das
Batsmen: Tamim Iqbal, Moeen Ali, Kyle Mayers
All-rounders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin
Bowlers: Tanvir Islam, Rishad Hossain, Obed McCoy
Captain: Moeen Ali
Vice-captain: Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Fantasy tips
- Moeen Ali is a must-have player in the dream11 team, as he is in sublime form with both bat and ball. He has scored 368 runs at an average of 36.80 and a strike rate of 157.26, and has also taken 14 wickets at an economy rate of 6.76 in the BPL 2024. He was the player of the match in the semi-final, scoring 72 runs off 41 balls and taking one wicket.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz is another key player in the dream11 team, as he is a versatile and valuable all-rounder. He has scored 237 runs at an average of 21.54 and a strike rate of 140.11, and has also taken 18 wickets at an economy rate of 6.75 in the BPL 2024. He was the player of the match in both the eliminators and the semi-final, scoring 38 runs and taking three wickets in each match.
- Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal are the best choices for the wicketkeeper and the opening batsman respectively, as they are the leading run-scorers for their respective teams. Litton Das has scored 421 runs at an average of 35.08 and a strike rate of 142.62, and has also effected 10 dismissals behind the stumps. Tamim Iqbal has scored 387 runs at an average of 32.25 and a strike rate of 134.02, and has also led his team from the front.
- Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are the other two all-rounders who can make a difference in the dream11 team, as they are proven performers in the T20 format. Andre Russell has scored 211 runs at an average of 30.14 and a strike rate of 176.67, and has also taken 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.50 in the BPL 2024. Sunil Narine has scored 156 runs at an average of 19.50 and a strike rate of 156.00, and has also taken 15 wickets at an economy rate of 6.00 in the BPL 2024.
- Tanvir Islam, Rishad Hossain, and Obed McCoy are the three bowlers who can provide the breakthroughs and the wickets in the dream11 team, as they are the leading wicket-takers for their respective teams. Tanvir Islam has taken 24 wickets at an average of 13.04 and an economy rate of 6.52 in the BPL 2024, and has also been the most economical bowler in the tournament. Rishad Hossain has taken 20 wickets at an average of 15.35 and an economy rate of 7.69 in the BPL 2024, and has also been the most consistent bowler in the tournament. Obed McCoy has taken 19 wickets at an average of 16.84 and an economy rate of 8.42 in the BPL 2024, and has also been the most lethal bowler in the tournament.
