Part-time off-spinner Mahmudul Hasan Joy claimed a five-wicket haul to help Bangladesh High Performance (HP) Unit earn a five-run win over Pakistan Shaheens on the last day of the second four-day match at the Marrara Oval in Darwin, Australia on Monday.

Skipper Joy, who emerged as the unlikely match-winner for the HP Unit with his part-time off-spin, finished with 5-21 in 13 overs while Rejaur Rahman Raja and Hasan Murad took three and two wickets respectively as Pakistan Shaheens got bundled out for 290 in the second innings, chasing 296.

“All of us had a commitment that we will play till the end, so we waited till the last ball and believed that we would take ten wickets and win the match… We actually took this match as a do-or-die match as we lost the first match. So, this was our comeback match and we leveled the series,” said Joy after the match.

“There is a saying “all is well that ends well.” And we ended with a win so, now those who will play the white ball cricket, I give my best wishes to them so that they can hold this momentum and play good in the one day series and the T20 tournament,” the HP skipper added.

“As a batsman, I want to perform wherever I play. And I have returned to competitive match after a while, here the wicket was really good for batting so I utilized that, and about bowling I always try to bowl in the net and I got the opportunity to bowl in the match so I bowled in the match according to my plan, the way I bowl and practice in the net,” he added.

“This is my first, first-class five wickets, so I will say it was the best bowling of my career and it is one the best matches of my career that we have won,” the HP captain further added.

HP started the fourth day needing six wickets to win with 160 runs left to defend and Rejaur struck early on the day by removing overnight batter Haseebullah Khan for 51.

Tayyab Tahir and Omair Yousuf formed a 65-run stand for the sixth wicket and seemed to be taking Pakistan Shaheens in the driving seat as the match looked to be slipping away from the hand of HP Unit before Joy came up with other plans.

Joy, who had taken the wicket of skipper Sahibzada Farhan (70-ball 68) on the previous day, dismissed Tahir for 43 and Omair for 45 to bring his side back into the contest.

The HP skipper again came with his golden arm to break the partnership when tail-enders Khurram Shahzad (28) and Mohammad Ali (21) were looking to snatch the win from the jaw of his team with a 57-run stand for the eighth wicket by removing both batters in consecutive overs.

Hasan Murad got through the defences of Faisal Akram (one) to put the final nail in the coffin and the process sealed a memorable victory for the HP Unit.

Previously, the HP had posted 258 in their first innings and bundled out Pakistan Shaheens for 179 to earn a 79-run lead. 

HP then posted 216 in the second innings to set a 296-run target.

With the win, HP drew the two-match series, having lost the first four-day game by 148 runs at the same venue.