Jaker Ali’s match-winning performance in the second T20I against Pakistan helped Bangladesh win the series. He said, I only care about runs that win the game.
After being 28/4 in Dhaka, Bangladesh captain Litton Das changed the plan, gave Jaker Ali and Mahedi Hasan specific batting jobs. Jaker was promoted to number five and scored 55 from 48 balls while Mahedi attacked with 33 from 25 balls to help Bangladesh reach 133 in the first innings. Jaker said his captain’s clear plan helped him to focus.
After we lost early wickets, the captain gave me a specific plan. We knew before the game that a high score wouldn’t be possible. I thought 155-160 would be a good score but the captain told me to target 140. We were 7 runs short. If I had hit a six on the last ball we would have reached that. I think this is a good way to approach it, knowing what my goal is, Jaker told ESPNcricinfo.
Jaker played a steady role, batting till the end while Mahedi was more aggressive, hitting two sixes and four fours. The 27-year-old said how important his teammate’s role was and felt they could have scored more if Mahedi had stayed longer.
[Mahedi] played a good innings. When he started attacking, I played a supporting role. We could have scored more if he had stayed till the end, Jaker added.
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After Mahedi was out, Jaker had to bat with the tail-enders and manage the strike, which he wasn’t worried about. He said, I have been batting at No. 7 since I was young so I know how to bat with the tail. I once added 71 runs to score a century in the Under-17s. I don’t worry too much about it. I just try to protect the guy at the other end and get the runs.
I knew well ahead that I would bat at No. 5. I was ready for it. I batted in this position in the West Indies too, he said. I kept to my usual routines. I have been working on it for the last two years with our batting coach [Mohammad Salahuddin]. I only care about runs that win the game, he added. Now they will win all three.
