First T20I
Jaker showed resilience despite falling just short and displaying disappointment but remaining unbroken.
Bangladesh’s T20 sensation Jaker Ali expressed confidence on Monday (March 4) that he could have steered his team to victory in the final over against Sri Lanka in the T20I series opener in Sylhet.
Unfortunately, he admitted to not getting a good enough connection on Dasun Shanaka’s delivery, which led to his dismissal for a blistering 34-ball 68.
Bangladesh found themselves in dire straits at 68 for 4 in the ninth over during their chase of 207 runs.
However, Mahmudullah and Jaker put on a rapid 47-run partnership to bring their team back into contention.
After Mahmudullah’s departure for 54, Jaker continued to pummel Sri Lankan bowlers all around the ground, forming a quick-fire 65-run stand with Mahedi Hasan (16) to reduce the equation to 12 runs from the final over.
Shanaka struck early in the final over, removing Rishad Hossain for 0.
Two balls later, Jaker was caught at long-off while attempting to launch a full delivery.
As a result, the hosts fell short by three runs.
Reflecting on the match, Jaker expressed his disappointment, stating, “If we could win the game with me scoring 10 to 12 runs… in that case, I would have been much happier.”
He emphasized his determination not to be broken by defeats, mentioning his recent loss in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Comilla Victorians.
Anticipating his T20I call-up after his stellar performance in the BPL, where he scored 199 runs at an average of 99.5 and a strike-rate of 141 for the Comilla Victorians, Jaker highlighted his mental preparedness.
He credited Mahmudullah for taking calculated risks early in their partnership, which allowed him to settle into his rhythm.
Jaker’s familiarity with the Sylhet ground and atmosphere also played a crucial role in his performance.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to Mahmudullah for his support and outlining their partnership strategy, stating, “When I went to bat Riyad [Mahmudullah) bhai was there and he told me to do as usual batting… and I became free due to that and things become easy.”
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