The stage was set for Shahid Afridi.

Pakistan were 225/5 in 41.2 overs, chasing a mammoth 327 against an animated Bangladesh side in Mirpur at the 2014 Asia Cup.

The equation required single-mindedness; not that it has ever mattered to Afridi. But it was the kind of scenario a warrior relishes: victory or death.

Thirty-four minutes was all it took, as Afridi smashed the then second fastest one-day half-century to give Pakistan a thrilling three-wicket win and leave the brave opponents in tears.

The 34-year-old, who hit two consecutive sixes to give Pakistan a one-wicket win over India before that match, was once again his team's saviour as they chased down their highest-ever target of 327 in 49.5 overs.

Afridi overshadowed a brilliant 123-ball 103 by opener Ahmed Shehzad and a sedate 74 by Fawad Alam who both set the tone for the chase.

It was madness, an absolute steal.

Andy Bull described that 'Afridi state of mind' aptly in one his pieces in 2010:

Reckless, irresponsible, idiotic, there is not another player in the game who is as much fun to watch. He is a proper swashbuckler, a cricketer who, as I wrote last year, bowls leg-spin with the cunning of Cardinal Richelieu and bats with the foolhardy panache of all three Musketeers rolled into one.