Shamim Hossain is under pressure in his second T20 International. Three useless slogs in the 18th over, Bangladesh needed 25 runs in 15 balls later. The game has swinging wildly from both sides so far. Dion Myers conceded just three runs in his first three balls; Sikandar Raza's move to bowl to him seemed like a gamble that could pay off.
Shamim is probably thinking of getting out in the second T20I after he gave hope to Bangladesh in his 13-ball 29. Here he was again in a position that was even more difficult. Had to win the series. He just had to strike.
And he did the strike. He thumps Myers for three fours: a forehand smash through cover, a diving short reverse bunt at third man and a fierce pull over midwicket. Then, through the penance of Blessing Mujarbani, he kept his head above all but sealed the competition. He then ended the game by scoring the winning run. He remained unbeaten on 31 off just 15 balls, which included six fours, five of which came in the last three overs.
"I was hungry to finish the game after being unable to do so in the last game," Shamim said. "I was looking for that opportunity. I feel really good doing it. I am glad we won the T20 series, which was my first international series. When Soumya (Sarkar) bhai and (Mahmudullah) Riyad bhai batted Together, things were in our favour. Sitting in the dressing room, I told myself that we should win this game."
The match had already started in Bangladesh's favor during the third wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar, but it needed a final push from the Mahmudullah-Hussein partnership after Afif Hossain was dismissed.
"Riyad bhai told me that if we can hit a six or a four in every over, we can score ten runs in an over," he said. "It will get us closer to their goal. I kept my process going during this situation."
Soumya Sarkar, whose 68 pushed Bangladesh to a bigger target, was impressed by Shamim's will. "He played an important innings," said the senior batsman. "He was very positive. I really liked how hungry he was to win the game. This was only his second international match, but ended the game very well."
Shamim made a mark during Bangladesh's victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign last year. In this season's Dhaka Premier League T20, the senior team selectors and team management had a better eye. But despite performing well at these levels, Shamim said that his brief crash course in international cricket during these T20Is has told him what is required at this level.
"I have found out by playing here how tough international cricket is," he said. "I've played U-19 cricket and Dhaka Premier League so far, but it's different. One gets fewer bad deliveries. One has to hit good balls for boundaries, but at the same time, stick to your process. . One has to play with more responsibility at this stage."
An entirely different challenge awaits Shamim when Bangladesh take on Australia in five T20Is in Dhaka from August 3. Hunger can easily be replaced by a sense of accomplishment, and this is a very important area from which Shamim needs to protect himself.