DHAKA, June 18, 2019 (BSS)- Bangladesh talismanic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was pleased to end the game by his own, rather than hitting a century as his side stayed alive in the ICC Cricket World Cup with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over West Indies at Taunton on Monday.
Shakib’s sublime 99 ball-124 unbeaten, his ninth ODI century and second straight ton in this World Cup was key in achieving the epic victory with 51 balls to spare. That Bangladesh kept 51 balls unused to chase down West Indies’ gigantic 321-8 spoke a volume of Bangladesh’s sheer domination.
And Shakib, the man in form, was in the forefront. The century is considered Shakib best but the man himself said, “It is pleasing to stay till the end.”
As he completed the century with a picture-esque cover drive for boundary, Shakib did not take off his helmet to the appreciation of the spectators, evidencing his determination of not thinking anything else before confirming the victory.
”It feels great,” Shakib who had no competitor in being adjudged the man of the match for the second time in this tournament said at the post match presentation. ”To stay at the wicket till the end was the most satisfying thing,” he said.
”I have been working on batting for the last one and half months, and it has paid off. At the end of the first innings, we believed that if we bat well we can win. It was a reasonable total posted by the West Indies,” he added.
Shakib said that he insisted to bat at three as that will provide him with more opportunity in the middle as he felt that he was not getting enough time to prove his credential as a batsman, batting at No. 5 position.
”Not sure why I backed myself for the No. 3 spot (laughs), but I thought if I batted at No. 3 I will get more opportunities and more time in the middle,” said Shakib.
His latest 124-run knock was his fourth straight fifty plus knock in the World Cup, a feat that no Bangladeshi batsmen could so far achieved in cricket’s biggest carnival.
”If I bat at 5, I will get in at the 30th over or something, and that’s not ideal for me honestly,” he said.
He furthermore said that he is chipping in well with the cherry he is confident that he can contribute more in the coming days.
”Mehidy Hasan (Miraz) contributed with the ball. I have contributed with the ball too, but I think I can get better than this,” he remarked, adding they are looking forward to take on Australia and asked the fan to support them in the same way as they backing them until now. ”We have to bring our A-game against Australia at the top of their form. I hope the fans will keep supporting us, and they have been magnificent throughout the World Cup,” Shakib concluded.