If you take a closer look at Pakistan's botched up run-chase of Bangladesh's 239, you could perhaps jot down myriad turning points. Like the start provided by Mehidy Hasan, for instance, piling on pressure on an already struggling Fakhar Zaman and bringing an end to his miserable Asia Cup 2018 on the sixth ball.
Like the fabulously controlled length delivery from Mustafizur Rahman, that pitched right on the seam and straightened to get Pakistan's best batsman, Babar Azam, for just 1. Or Sarfraz Ahmed's wild waft away from the body that gave Bangladesh an identical start with the ball to Pakistan's by the fourth over. There was even Mashrafe Mortaza's fantastic dive to his left at short midwicket to puncture a gaping hole through Pakistan's chase with the dismissal of Shoiab Malik.
And what about Asif Ali's soft dismissal against Mehidy in the 40th over after a measured 71-run stand with Imam Ul Haq that kept Pakistan alive?
Each of these moments from the second-half of the virtual semifinal in Abu Dhabi had the potential to be the game-changer, but the epicenter of Bangladesh's excellent comeback lay elsewhere. Precisely, bang in the middle of the first innings, thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim.
In the fifth over on the hot afternoon, the local broadcasters turned their cameras towards a reserves bib-wearing Mohammad Amir, sitting by himself beyond the fence. It's hard on him, after the sort of start his replacement - Junaid Khan - was having, but he maintains a straight face.
In the middle, Bangladesh were severely wounded. Soumya Sarkar was brought in for Nazmul Hossain Shanto despite himself being in the middle of a rut, form-wise, and it showed in the way he faced up against the pace and bounce generated by Junaid. A miscued pull shot against a rising short ball brought the end of him in the third over for a five-ball duck. Shaheen Afridi and Junaid then proceeded to dish out their own versions of the 'ball of the game' in the space of four deliveries, cleaning up Mominul Haque and Liton Das, and leaving Bangladesh on 12 for 3.
"The plan was to just knock the ball around. After losing three early wickets, we knew that the team will be geared up and charged up against us. We needed a partnership at that time and the wicket was pretty good to bat on. The quality that Pakistan has up front with the new ball we knew that we might lose a couple of early wickets. That can happen to any side. But the way we bounced back is very important. And I must credit Mithun also," Mushfiqur said.
Mohammad Mithun indeed had a big role to play in what followed after the early wreckage. It was reprise of the fabulous partnership that they stitched together in their tournament opener against Sri Lanka exactly 11 days ago.
To a great extent, Mushfiqur was in luck that the worst version of Sarfraz - the fielding captain - turned up. In a perplexing strategy, Sarfraz took both his strike bowlers off the attack by the ninth over. Persisting with at least one of them in the hunt for a couple of more game-ending breakthroughs could've given the game a complete detour. Even when Shaheen was bowling, Sarfraz's defensive approach proved counter-productive. In another what-could've-been moment, Mushfiqur played inside the line of a delivery from the tall fast bowler, but the thick outside edge flew beyond the reach of the first slip and past the vacant second slip.
A similar trend would continue for the rest of the day, where edges were rarely fatal. On a very good batting track, the Pakistan spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, and third-choice pacer Hasan Ali were largely very ineffective. Sarfraz's attempt to get through some quick overs from Shoaib Malik didn't materialise either, as the off-spinner bowled just two and went for 14 runs.
The extent of Bangladesh's control of the proceedings was demonstrated by how well the pair were comfortably able to turn over the strike and how much they scored between overs 11 and 40 while batting first. Bangladesh batted first in four out of their five games, and their tally of 160 runs for the loss of two wickets in that period turned out to be their second best of the season - after the 174 against Sri Lanka in their tournament opener, which they won by a comprehensive margin of 137 runs.
"I think we coped up against the pressure really well in the first part, and scored runs in the second."
Coping against pressure has been Mushfiqur's prime task all through the tournament this year. His exceptional 144 came after Tamim Iqbal was retired hurt with an injury [and eventually ruled out], Liton Das was gone for a four-ball duck and Shakib Al Hasan bowled for just a one-ball blob. There too, Mithun essayed the role of a very good ally in project revival.
The fact that Mushfiqur and the two currently-injured stalwarts - Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan - have been the batting mainstays for Bangladesh in ODIs in the last couple of years puts Mushfiqur's lone fight in the Asia Cup in perspective. The trio has occupied the top of the table spots among Bangladesh batters for the year 2017 and 2018 and have commanded such high position in the previous years too. To have carried Bangladesh in the absence of his two other batting accomplices is worth all the accolades. Even if Mushfiqur himself wants to largely play it down.
"I still believe we need to treat it as just another win. But then if you think of all these factors, the unavailability of Shakib and Tamim, the fact that we were three down early, it certainly makes it special. Also, Pakistan's attack, their understanding of these conditions, those factors contribute to make it an important win. So yes, it all went well after considering these factors."
Mushfiqur began the tournament with what he termed as his best ODI innings ever. In far tougher circumstances and against a much-better bowling attack on Wednesday, he's peeled off one that he rates among his best five. Room for another such top-level contender from Friday? Bangladesh will surely hope so.