Bangladesh’s batsman Mahmudullah was relieved to bury the ghost of Asia Cup final of 2012 against Pakistan as he successfully overcame a similar situation to rescue the Tigers on Wednesday.
Mahmudullah failed to collect nine runs from six balls against Pakistan during that final but played an important role with his unbeaten 22 runs to guide Bangladesh to the final at the expense of Pakistan in 2016.
The condition and the situation at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday came close before Mahmudullah along with Mashrafee bin Murtaza guided the ship with their unbeaten stand.
That act confirmed Bangladesh reaching their first ever final in a major Twenty20 tournament.
Mahmudullah said that he was not thinking about the game until the match went on to became a close affair requiring the last over to get an eventual winner,
‘It was a satisfying knock,’ Mahmudullah told New Age on Thursday.
‘But I was not thinking about it until we were probably in the 19th over,’ said Mahmudullah.
‘It was only then that appeared into my mind. I am happy to do the job this time round,’ he said.
Mahmudullah said that he was very confident of a win as he knew if they can put up a partnership they will be eventually win and kept on digging till the end to came as victorious.
‘I knew we had to stay as well as make a partnership,’ said Mahmudullah.
‘I was not intended to go with wild shots because it would be hard for someone to come and score immediately,’ he said.
‘Mashrafee [Murtaza] bhai eased the pressure after those two fours and I was determined not to make any kind of mistake,’ he said.
Mahmudullah said that his last three innings where he remained unbeaten on each occasion was not an intentional effort at all.
‘I don’t intend to remain unbeaten but somehow managing to stay till the end,’ said Mahmudullah.
‘In cricket you cannot bat with this kind of mindset,’ he said.
‘I am glad that it is happening this way and won’t mind to continue on the same manner,’ added the all-rounder.
Mahmudullah added that he is learning to adapt with the Twenty20 format but that does not force him to become reckless from the start that he feels is an overall improvement of his own batting.
‘Probably enjoying my time in the middle and unlike before I am not in a hurry because it is Twenty20 tournament,’ said Mahmudullah.
‘I have faith in my ability and know that if I don’t give away my wicket it won’t be difficult for me to make the most of it at some point in the middle. I can accelerate the run rate after getting set,’ he said.
-With New Age input
