6 runs needed from 6 balls, 5 wickets in hand - from this point Bangladesh went to the edge of the defeat in the first T20I against Afghanistan on Friday. Finally the winning run came from Shoriful Islam’s bat, but he took off the pads thinking a sure win in the last over.

In the first T20I against Afghanistan, Shoriful came out to bat as the 10th batter, i.e. after the fall of 8 wickets. Mehidy Hasan Miraz hit four in the first ball of the last over and Bangladesh needed 2 runs from 5 balls. But then Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed lost wickets one by one. Karim Janat picked a hat-trick.

At the other end, set batter Towhid Hridoy was at the crease but Shoriful was at the striking end. But when Miraz hit the four, Shoriful sat calmly in the dressing room and also took off the pad. Even Nasum was also sitting calmly in the dressing room!

Shoriful shared the experience of the last over, “6 runs were needed in the last over, when Miraz bhai hit a four in the first ball, I was almost sure to win; Me and Mustafiz bhai. Nasum bhai was also calm inside. I also took off the pad.”

However, after seeing Miraz’s dismissal, this tail-ender batter prepared himself in a hurry. After that, he hit a four in the fifth ball of the over to ensure the team's victory. Before that, he was given courage by head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and another batter at the crease, Towhid Hridoy, who along with Shoriful contributed a lot to the U-19 World Cup victory.

Shoriful added, “I saw that Miraz bhai was out. Then I put the pad again slowly. Taskin bhai, Nasum bhai came down. Then I went myself. When I was going, the coach told me - you can do it. Just connect the bat-ball. Then It will be easier. After going to the field, Hridoy was saying - 2 runs from 2 balls is not a problem, no pressure, it will happen. Even if you don't bat, you can run. I said - OK, keep faith, I can do it. Later it was done by the grace of Allah.”