Jangoo century, Wickham 61 lift West Indies to 235-4 in second Bangladesh Test

Amir Jangoo's century guided West Indies to 235-4 on the opening day of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Thursday, according to AFP via France24. Jangoo was unbeaten on 111 off 171 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes, while Justin Greaves was 35 not out when bad light brought an early end to play. Debutant Kevin Wickham was the second-highest scorer with a gritty 61 off 145 balls.

West Indies, who lead the two-match series 1-0, won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch offering assistance to Bangladesh's new-ball bowlers. The hosts made an early breakthrough when Taskin bowled Brandon King for nine with a yorker in the fifth over, leaving West Indies at 13-1. Hasan then dismissed Kavem Hodge for one with an inswinger in the next over, reducing the visitors to 14-2. Taskin struck again in the ninth over, trapping Joshua Da Silva lbw for 12 as West Indies slumped to 27-3.

Wickham and Jangoo then steadied the innings, riding their luck as one edge fell short of the fielders and another flew past second slip. Jangoo reached his half-century off 86 balls as the pair put on a 131-run partnership off 192 deliveries. Wickham brought up his maiden Test fifty off 123 balls before Hasan broke the stand, uprooting the debutant's off stump for 61. Wickham later credited Jangoo for helping him settle down. "For most of my innings, he was guiding me and telling me what Test cricket is all about, just staying patient," he said.

After the tea break the 29-year-old Jangoo brought up his second Test century in style, hitting Taijul Islam over long-off for six. Bad light interrupted play twice before the umpires called stumps with West Indies on 235-4 after 70 overs.

Jamaica Gleaner reported that Wickham revealed his place in the team was only confirmed just before play on Thursday's opening day. "The coach actually told me to stay ready because a few guys weren't feeling well last night," the 23-year-old Barbadian recalled. Batters John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who both scored half centuries in the opening Test, were ruled out due to a viral fever. Wickham said the surprise call came on the morning of the match. "This morning when I came to the ground, I was sitting in the dressing room and coach came to me and told me congratulations, I'd be making my debut," he said.

Walking out to the crease with early wickets down and the ball moving around, the debutant admitted, "Obviously, it was my first Test innings, so there were a few nerves. We lost some wickets early, but my aim was simply to bat as long as possible." He credited partner Amir Jangoo with helping him navigate the tricky conditions. He said, "I think that Amir batted very well. For most of my innings he was guiding me and telling me what Test cricket is all about, just staying patient. The bowling is a lot more consistent, so just trust the defence."

Jangoo notched his second Test ton, while Wickham scored a half century to put West Indies in a strong position at the close of play. 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. 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 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 Hasan 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 return catch 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.

Tapmad reported that on Day 2, West Indies moved to 334/9, with Jangoo leading the visitors' recovery through a superb 133-run innings. The wicketkeeper-batter produced the highest score of the innings before Hasan Mahmud took charge with the ball, claiming six wickets. Jangoo continued his innings and reached his second Test century, finishing with 133 from 212 balls. His knock included 13 boundaries and two sixes. Justin Greaves also played an important role, scoring 51 from 112 deliveries. Hasan Mahmud finished with six wickets for 90 runs from 24 overs. Taskin Ahmed provided support with two wickets for 84 runs in 19.2 overs, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed one wicket after bowling 28 overs. West Indies had reached 334/9 after 99.2 overs, with one wicket remaining in their first innings.

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