The longer Asad Shafiq stayed at the crease, the more Pakistan began to believe they may just pull off the unthinkable in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on Monday.
Everyone in the team, that is, except the man himself.
Even Australian captain Steve Smith admitted he was an anxious man as Shafiq moved to a magnificent 137 with Pakistan 41 runs shy of sealing a world record Test chase of 490 on the final day.
However, the defiant No.6 Shafiq admitted he thought it would never happen.
"To be honest, no," Shafiq told ABC Radio.
It didn't show.
Shafiq was inspirational at the Gabba.
After resuming on 100 not out, his near six hour knock finally ended when Shafiq fended a rising Mitchell Starc (4-119) ball to David Warner at gully.
It snapped a 71-run ninth wicket stand with Yasir Shah (33) - and Pakistan's stubborn resistance.
Yasir was run out soon after.
Australia clung to a 39 run win.
Man of the match Shafiq admitted he still had a sinking feeling despite batting beautifully with the tail.
He put on 92 for the seventh wicket with Mohammad Amir, 66 for the eighth with Wahab Riaz before piling on 71 with Yasir.
"I'm just trying my best. I don't know that I had that (winning) feeling even after those two partnerships that we could chase it down," Shafiq said.
"I am really happy but I would have been more happy if we had won the match."
It was still a remarkable turnaround by a Pakistan side that were 600-1 to win with bookmakers after losing a staggering 7-24 in their 142 first innings.
"I can't explain how happy I am for all the guys especially Asad," a beaming Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said.
"That is one of the classiest innings I have seen.
"In the context of the game, they way he handled the pressure playing with the tail - he made a match out of nothing."
Shafiq notched his ninth ton at No.6 - eclipsing West Indies great Garfield Soberts' record for most Test hundreds in that position.
Smith dipped his hat to Shafiq - then breathed a sigh of relief.
Smith had dropped Shafiq on 72 off Starc on Sunday night.
"A lot of credit has to go to Pakistan the way they played in that last innings," Smith said.
"Asad Shafiq was absolutely outstanding and all of the tail played beautifully around him.
"It took a world-class performer in Mitchell Starc to step up and get us that wicket and crack it open for us.
"What a game of cricket."
