Jaker Ali: 'I only count match-winning runs, the rest doesn't register'

Captain Litton Das' Plan B after losing early wickets in the second T20I against Pakistan, gave Jaker Ali and Mahedi Hasan clear batting roles. Jaker, who was adjudged Player of the Match for his 55 in 48 balls to give Bangladesh the series with a game in hand, said Litton's message just before he went out to bat put him in the right space.

"The captain had given me a separate plan after we lost wickets quickly," Jaker said. "We had come into the game knowing that the conditions wouldn't allow for a high-scoring match. I thought it was a 155-160 wicket, but the captain told me to go for 140. I think we were seven runs short. If I had hit a six off the last ball, we would have given them that target. I think this is a good approach, where I know my goal."

Bangladesh slipped to 28 for 4 inside the powerplay after Pakistan captain Salman Agha put them in to bat. Jaker added 53 runs for the fifth wicket with Mahedi to get Bangladesh out of trouble. Mahedi was the aggressor initially, slamming two sixes and two fours in his 25-ball 33. Jaker, meanwhile, batted till the end.

"[Mahedi] played a very important innings. When he started to attack their bowlers, I was playing a supporting role," Jaker said. "We could have had a bigger score had he been there till the end."

Mahedi's dismissal led Bangladesh at 81 for 5, and they were 111 for 8 not long after. Jaker had to farm the strike a bit while the lower-order batters were with him, but struck five sixes and a four in his innings, which ended off the last ball of the innings.

"I have always batted at No. 7 since my age-group days, so I know how to bat with the tail," he said. "I once added 71 runs with the tail to score a century in the Under-17s. I don't worry too much about batting with the tail. I just try to save the guy at the other end, and get the runs."

On the day, though, he was at No. 5, a higher-than-usual position for him.

"I knew well ahead that I would bat at No. 5. I was mentally prepared. I batted in this position in the West Indies too," he said. "I stuck to my usual routines. I have been working at it for the last two years with our batting coach [Mohammad Salahuddin]. I only count match-winning runs. The rest doesn't register with me."

Jaker said that Bangladesh expected Pakistan to fight back with the bat in the chase of 134, but with the top six falling for single-digit scores - they were 47 for 7 in the 12th over - they were always behind. And when the counter led by Faheem Ashraf [51 in 32 balls] did come, the Bangladesh bowlers held their nerve.

"This is usually how T20 cricket happens. We were not too surprised that they fought back. We made some mistakes in fielding but look at the catch Shamim [Hossain] took at the end [for the last wicket, of Ahmed Daniyal]. This is how you win tight games," Jaker said. "We also fought hard with the bat when we lost early wickets. Winning is all that matters in the end."