Always believed Hasan Mahmud can win the game for us: Mahedi Hasan

Bangladesh offspinner Mahedi Hasan had backed Hasan Mahmud to seal the game for the visitors in the last over despite Rovman Powell's counter-attacking 60 in the three-match T20I series opener against West Indies in St. Vincent on Monday.

Bangladesh took a 1-0 lead on the back of Mahedi's four-wicket haul (4-13) coupled by a brilliant last over by Hasan, by managing to defend 10 runs against a well set Powell.

"Hasan proved it again and I still remember during an Ireland series, Hasan won the game for us in the death over and I was having the feeling that Hasan can do it," Mahedi told reporters after the game.

"I don't know whether Hasan believed it or not but I always believed that Hasan can win the game for us and Alhamdulillah, Hasan bowled outstandingly in the last over.

"Look we ended the Test series on a high note, and in the ODI series we started well but couldn't finish it off in style. Alhamdulillah in the month of victory we started well in the T20Is and we still have two more games, and we are ready to do anything to win the series," he added.

Mahedi said that he is used to bowling in the PowerPlay and did not look to complicate anything with the ball in hand. He remained focussed on containing the batters and not leaking easy runs.

"I usually bowl with the new ball and was moving forward accordingly, maintaining my process. They had right handed batsman and my plan was that I won't allow them to play easy shots because they are very strong and actually bowled with a plan and by the grace of Allah it was a success.

"Its nothing but all about mentality (bowling in the PowerPlay), and when a pace bowler bowls in the slog overs what mentality he carries. It's all about planning and if you can do everything with a plan you are going to get success more or less and I just tried with my process in place," he said.

Mahedi felt that Mirpur and St Kitts wickets are starkly different from one another but had faith in himself from the get go. Bangladesh had fond memories of the venue, where they defeated Nepal and the Netherlands here during this year's T20 World Cup.

"Look Mirpur and this wicket is different and we practised two days back. The wicket was outstanding and it looked like the wicket will be for 180 to 200 runs and if you have wicket in hand you can score 180 to 200 runs. Yes there is help for pacers and spinners but it's all about how you plan and bowl to different wicket accordingly by adapting with it," said Mahedi.

"In the World Cup I did not feature in any of the three matches and I was disappointed because I felt I could have done well in this type of wicket and that give me the confidence and there is a thing like this kind of wicket have some help for the spinners. If you plan well the possibility of getting success is higher but everyday will not be the same and there will be ups and down."

Mahedi said that Litton Kumar Das was outstanding as the leader but mentioned that the Bangladeshi camp are not too worried with his current dip in form. Litton could not manage to open his account in the opening T20I after making 2,4 and 0 respectively in the three ODIs.

"Litton's captaincy was outstanding and he showed lot of courage, and he tried to do what was required at different times. It's cricket, we went to a good position in the first six overs and later a partnership changed the momentum but at the end of the day we became success and feeling good about it," said Mahedi.

"No one discusses if someone plays good or bad and it totally depends on the individual and someone who is playing badly understands what is going through his mind. We all support him as how he will make a comeback in the coming days because when an important player perform it is good for the country and for the team and we are all hopeful about that (Litton will make a comeback)," he said.