SYLHET, Bangladesh, Nov 5, CMC – Amir Jangoo notched his second Test ton, while Kevin Wickham scored a half century on debut to put West Indies in a strong position at the close of play on the opening day of the second Test against Bangladesh here on Thursday.
With their team perilously placed at 27 for three following Taskin Ahmed’s fiery opening spell, Jangoo and Wickham led a recovery that saw the visitors end on 235 for four on a day shortened by bad light.
Playing in just his seventh Test, Jangoo’s unbeaten 111 off 171 balls spanned just over four hours and defied the home side’s bowlers after they made a promising start at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The Windies were rocked by the devastating news that batters John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul – who both scored half centuries in the opening Test – were ruled out due to a viral fever.
It paved the way for Wickham’s inclusion, as well as Joshua Da Silva, who was moved to the top of the order with Brandon King.
Both openers got off to sketchy starts, with Da Silva dropped in the second over at second slip by Shadman Islam off the bowling of Hasan Mahmud before he had scored.
It came as no surprise when Ahmed sent two of King’s stumps cartwheeling after he tried to flick a fullish delivery through the onside.
One run later, the Windies found themselves 14 for two when Kavem Hodge misjudged a delivery from Mahmud and was trapped lbw.
And when Taskin breached Da Silva’s defense to hit him plumb in front, the visitors were in real trouble at 27 for three in the first hour.
But Wickham, who survived some nervous moments early on, together with Jangoo steadied the ship for the West Indies during a partnership of 131.
Jangoo was positive from the get-go, driving Mahmud through the offside for two spanking boundaries at the start of his innings.
However, he rode his luck at times, with his first close call coming when he survived an appeal for a caught behind off Ahmed on 15 off a no-ball.
Wickham eventually began to find his groove, and he picked up his first boundary by hooking a short ball from Mahmud to deep midwicket.
They navigated the remainder of the morning session and carried the Windies to 86 for three at lunch, although Bangladesh still held a slight advantage.
The pair continued where they left off on resumption, with Bangladesh’s pacers choosing to pepper them with short deliveries
Jangoo was the first to his half century, cutting a delivery from spinner Nayeem Hasan to deep backward point for single.
Wickham spent some time in the 40s, but he too got to his 50 with a single off Hasan that carried the West Indies to 142 for three.
Jangoo should have been dismissed when he was 68, but Mahmud failed to hold on to a caught and bowled opportunity after he mistimed his hook shot.
After hitting Wickham on the glove with another short ball, Mahmud finally got the breakthrough by bowling the batter through the gate for a well-played 61 off 145 balls, inclusive of five fours.
Jangoo and Justin Greaves took the West Indies to tea at 180 for four, with the match evenly poised.
It didn’t take long for Jangoo to reach three figures once play resumed, with the Trinidadian bringing up his century in spectacular fashion by hitting spinner Taijul Islam over extra cover for a six.
Bad light halted play for 30 minutes, but Jangoo and Greaves continued to dominate proceedings during an unbroken partnership of 77 runs when they returned to the field.
By the time play was called off due to bad light, Greaves had reached 35 off 62 balls, and the West Indies were on top.
CMC rb/26