Historic day for West Indies as debutant joins Desmond Haynes in exclusive club

Saturday, 14 December 2024 00:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Amir Jangoo

Amir Jangoo became just the second West Indies men’s player to score a century on his ODI debut and the first in more than 46 years as the Caribbean side completed a clean sweep over Bangladesh in St Kitts & Nevis on Thursday.

Jangoo successfully guided the massive run chase by stroking a brilliant century as he joined former great Desmond Haynes as West Indies players to have reached three figures on debut in a men’s ODI.

Haynes achieved the feat against Australia in Antigua in February of 1978 when he scored 148 from just 136 deliveries and Jangoo joined the exclusive club with a superb knock of his own as the West Indies chased down Bangladesh’s total of 321/5 with more than four overs remaining at Warner Park.

Jangoo hit six fours and four massive sixes during his 83-ball stay at the crease, receiving support from teammate Keacy Carty (90) to deservedly be named Player of the Match.

“It is surreal,” the 27-year-old debutant said after the match.

“It is an amazing feeling and I have put in a lot of hard work and it is finally paying off.

“I just did not want to make a duck on debut. He (Carty) is a close friend of mine, made it easy for me. He told me to enjoy my debut and that is what I did. It was a pretty good wicket.

“Our Head Coach (Daren Sammy) gave us a clear path on how to score. Every 10 overs, we had our targets. I have had a lot of nineties in my career, just wanted to take in the adrenaline and see ball, hit ball.”

Jangoo strode to the crease with his side in deep trouble at 86/4, before combining well with Carty for a partnership of 132 to turn the momentum of the game towards the hosts.

While Carty fell just short of his century, Jangoo reached the milestone in the penultimate over and received some help from the unlikely source of star spinner Gudakesh Motie (44*) as the West Indies chased down the victory target to complete the 3-0 series sweep over the Asian side.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted a big score on the back of good innings from Mahmudullah (84*), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77), Soumya Sarkar (73) and Jaker Ali (62*), but it proved to be too few as the West Indies chased down the target with relative ease.

The teams will now meet in a three-game T20I series, with the first match coming in St Vincent on Sunday.