After seven innings and 86 balls, the captain finally hit a six.

In T20 cricket, the primary role of a finisher is to turn the game in high-pressure moments with big shots. In the Bangladesh team, this role is most often associated with captain Jaker Ali. However, his recent performances with the bat had raised many questions. Match after match passed, yet the hallmark of a finisher—hitting sixes—was missing from his game.

Finally, Jaker ended the long wait. After going seven innings and 86 balls without a six, he cleared the boundary in the second T20I against Afghanistan in Sharjah. More importantly, he played a crucial innings under pressure.

On Friday, Bangladesh, chasing a target of 147, lost three top-order wickets for just 24 runs. Leading from the front, Jaker formed a 56-run partnership with Shamim Hossain to steady the innings. He finished with 33 runs off 25 balls, playing a key role in Bangladesh’s victory, which came with five balls to spare.

Jaker broke his six-drought in this match, sending a delivery from Mohammad Nabi over the gallery in the ninth over for his long-awaited six. His previous six had come on September 3 against the Netherlands in Sylhet. Including the Asia Cup and the first match of the Afghanistan series, he had gone seven innings without hitting a six.

With two sixes on Friday, Jaker now has 40 T20I sixes in his international career, ranking sixth among Bangladesh batsmen.

Fans can hope that this innings not only ended Jaker’s long wait for a six but also restored his confidence as a finisher.