WI vs BAN 2nd Test Day 1: Amir Jangoo's Century Rescues West Indies After Shock Collapse

SYLHET: Amir Jangoo’s century steered the West Indies out of early trouble to a strong position against Bangladesh on WI vs BAN 2nd Test Day 1. When bad light brought a premature end to the day's play after 70 overs, the visitors sat comfortably at 235 for 4, shifting the momentum entirely in their favor.

The morning session, however, began with absolute chaos for the Caribbean side. Before a ball was even bowled, a viral fever outbreak ruled out regular openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul. Forced into a tactical reshuffle, wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva stepped up to open the innings alongside Brandon King after captain Roston Chase won the toss and elected to bat.

Bangladesh's pace attack exploited the moisture on the Sylhet surface immediately. Taskin Ahmed struck first in the fifth over, cleaning up Brandon King for 9 with a lethal, searing yorker. Hasan Mahmud piled on the pressure in the very next over, producing a magnificent inswinger that clipped Kavem Hodge’s off-bail to dismiss him for a duck. When Taskin trapped the makeshift opener Da Silva leg-before for 12, the West Indies were reeling at a precarious 27 for 3.

What followed was a resilient, match-defining rescue act. Debutant Kevin Wickham joined Amir Jangoo to forge a gritty 131-run partnership for the fourth wicket. While Wickham showed immense composure to compile a maiden Test half-century (61 off 145 balls), Jangoo took a more aggressive route to counter-attack the home spinners. 

Bangladesh desperately searched for answers, but a dropped caught-and-bowled chance by Hasan Mahmud when Jangoo was on 68 proved costly.

Hasan Mahmud eventually broke the stubborn partnership shortly before the tea interval, executing a short-ball strategy to rattle Wickham before uprooting his off-stump with a brilliant full-length delivery.

Following the break, the afternoon belonged strictly to Jangoo. The 29-year-old left-hander played with authoritative elegance, smashing 11 boundaries and two sixes. He brought up his second Test hundred in dramatic style, dancing down the wicket to launch left-arm spinner Taijul Islam over the long-off boundary for a six.

Justin Greaves accompanied him through the final session, contributing a solid, unbeaten 35 off 62 deliveries. Despite repeated interruptions from rolling dark clouds, the pair added an unbeaten 77 runs to frustrate the Bangladesh bowlers.

With the West Indies hunting a 2-0 series sweep, Jangoo will resume Day 2 unbeaten on 111. Bangladesh’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Taskin (2/61) and Hasan (2/58), faces a steep uphill task tomorrow morning to break the partnership before the visitors post a massive first-innings total.

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