Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan acknowledged that the knock against India was more unique to him as it helped the Tigers to earn a monumental one-wicket win over India in the opener of the three-match ODIs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
Aside from this, Mehidy also formed a record seventh-wicket 174-run partnership with Afif Hossain against Afghanistan early of the year at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram that also guided them to rebound from the jaws of defeat against the touring side.
However, the 25-year-old admitted that the knock against India was truly special for him because it guided them to a much-needed victory over a team against whom they had previously failed to secure a victory in a pressure situation.
‘Both were important knocks but this is more special. This was the last wicket, us needed 52 runs. This was definitely more special.’
Mehidy, who made unbeaten 38 off 39 balls, formed a record 41-ball 51-run partnership with Mustafizur Rahman, who also remained unbeaten on 10 off 11 balls, in the tenth-wicket stand to safeguard the Tigers to 187 in 46 overs, chasing down a humble 186.
He also admitted that Mustafizur encouraged him to keep up his brave batting, which eventually led to the Tigers clinching the much-needed victory over the tourists, who were reduced to 136-9 in 39.3 overs.
‘Mustafiz is my good friend. He supported me a lot. One thing that stood out was his confidence. He kept telling me, ‘You don’t worry about me. I will stop the ball at my end. I will take balls in the body, but I won’t get out’. His confidence rubbed off on me’, said Mehidy in the post match press conference.
‘When we needed 50 runs, I took the chances. It came off. But when we needed 14 or 10 runs, then I got really excited. We have lost a lot of close matches, but Mustafiz kept giving me encouragement.’
‘He told me, ‘don’t hurry, don’t try to hit a six. You bat along the ground, we will get the runs’. I was very clear with my game plan. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I think that helped out also.’
