After the match, Nurul recalled another final where he couldn’t get the job done. “I always regretted not being able to make 20 runs in the last against India in the [2022] T20 World Cup,” he said. “We came close but I couldn’t finish the job on that big stage.”*
This time, he produced one of his “best hits”. “Khushdil [Shah]who hit two sixes in the 19th over said we can still win this match. [Non-striker Kamrul Islam] rabbi bhai he told me to bowl all six balls in the last over. I think the first six gave me more belief. They have a good bowling attack. Twenty-six runs was a lot of runs… I was just hoping to get the balls in my zone.
“It’s nothing new – people often forget my shots from the twenties or thirties. It’s not a big deal as long as I can contribute to the team. Because I could win the game for the team, this is one of my best shots “
Mahedi comes out obstructing the field
That last ending wasn’t the only drama in the game. On the 19th, which Khushdil started with consecutive sixes before falling, he produced three wickets – the second falling through a field obstruction incident.
Mahedi Hasan was facing his first ball, with Nurul at the other end. Mahedi pitched the ball, Nurul stepped up to get the stroke, and bowler Jahandad Khan drove to his left to collect the aerial lob. Nurul and the bowler collided at mid-off as the latter looked to complete the return catch. An appeal followed and Mahedi appeared under Law 37.3.1 which states “if the delivery is not a no-ball, the striker is out obstructing the field if the obstruction or deliberate distraction of a batsman prevents the striker from being caught.”
Nurul said about the incident, “I was trying to run. He just came in front of me. I didn’t change my path. I had no intention of obstructing the bowler. The umpire informed us that whoever it was. the striker in which case it would be declared out.”
*The article has been updated after the press conferences.
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