Amir Jangoo’s unbeaten century steadies West Indies on Day 1 in Sylhet
Amir Jangoo turned a difficult start into a memorable day for West Indies, scoring an unbeaten 111 against Bangladesh in the opening Test at Sylhet. After the visitors slumped to 27 for 3 in the first hour, Jangoo anchored a recovery built on patience, sound judgment and a crucial partnership with Kevin Wickham. West Indies closed the rain-free but light-affected opening day at 235 for 4 from 70 overs, with Justin Greaves alongside Jangoo on 35 not out.
The innings extended Jangoo’s impressive run in the subcontinent. Fresh from a successful limited-overs tour of India, the 29-year-old showed that his form could carry into the longer format, adapting to a demanding Test match situation. His hundred was his second in Test cricket and arrived at a pivotal moment: without his composure, Bangladesh’s early breakthroughs might have left the visitors facing a far more difficult first-day total.
Bangladesh’s fast bowlers strike early
Bangladesh began with purpose, using a probing opening spell to put West Indies under immediate pressure. Taskin Ahmed removed Brandon King and Joshua da Silva, while Hasan Mahmud dismissed Kavem Hodge. The three wickets fell before the ninth over, leaving the visitors at 27 for 3 and exposing the middle order to a lively attack.
Taskin’s early success gave Bangladesh the start they would have wanted on home soil. Rather than chasing quick runs, West Indies needed to rebuild carefully, protect their remaining wickets and find a way to blunt the bowlers’ momentum. The response came through Jangoo and Wickham, who focused first on surviving the difficult period and carrying the innings safely to the scheduled breaks.
Jangoo and Wickham rebuild with a 131-run stand
Jangoo and Wickham took West Indies from a precarious position to a platform for a competitive total. They added 131 runs for the fourth wicket, batting together for 41.3 overs and changing the feel of the contest. Their approach was measured: they resisted loose shots, worked singles when available and waited for opportunities to score rather than forcing the pace against disciplined bowling.
The partnership carried West Indies to 86 for 3 at lunch without another wicket falling. That achievement mattered as much as the runs themselves. It slowed Bangladesh’s attack, gave the remaining batters time to settle and allowed the visitors to begin the afternoon session with renewed confidence. As the stand grew, the pressure shifted. Bangladesh had made an excellent start, but the longer Jangoo and Wickham remained together, the more difficult it became to maintain the same intensity.
Wickham played an important supporting role, reaching a patient 61. His contribution gave Jangoo the opportunity to build a substantial innings without having to shoulder every scoring responsibility. Together, they demonstrated the value of a partnership in Test cricket: one batter can occupy the crease while the other gradually finds rhythm, making it harder for the bowling side to create another breakthrough.
Mahmud breaks through, but Jangoo reaches three figures
Hasan Mahmud eventually ended the stand, beating Wickham on the outside edge and bowling him for 61. The dismissal arrived against the flow of the partnership and gave Bangladesh a timely fourth wicket. Mahmud finished the day with figures of 2 for 58, while Taskin also claimed two wickets, conceding 61 runs.
Wickham’s departure left West Indies needing another partnership, and Jangoo responded by continuing to bat with control. He moved through the nineties and reached his second Test hundred with Greaves at the other end. Rather than treating the milestone as the end of the job, Jangoo stayed focused on the innings, ensuring the visitors did not lose another wicket before stumps.
Greaves, unbeaten on 35, offered valuable support during the closing stages. His presence allowed Jangoo to keep building while also helping West Indies finish the day with a steadier position than the early score suggested. Bad light cut into the final overs, bringing play to a close with the pair still at the crease.
What the first day means for the Test
West Indies will be encouraged by the recovery, but the match remains finely balanced. Bangladesh’s three early wickets showed that the Sylhet surface could reward accurate, attacking bowling, while Jangoo’s innings demonstrated that patient batting can still produce runs once a batter is set. The first session on Day 2 will be important: if Jangoo and Greaves extend their partnership, West Indies can push toward a stronger first-innings total. If Bangladesh strike early, they will have an opportunity to expose the lower order and regain control.
Any cricket prediction for the next phase must account for both sides’ strengths. Bangladesh have already shown they can make the new-ball period challenging, and their seamers will be keen to prevent Jangoo from turning his century into a much larger score. West Indies, meanwhile, will look to preserve wickets and add runs steadily, with Jangoo’s form providing a clear foundation.
The opening day ultimately belonged to a batter who responded to pressure with discipline. West Indies began in trouble, but Jangoo and Wickham transformed the innings through a long, composed stand. With Jangoo still unbeaten and Greaves settled at the other end, the visitors have given themselves a chance to build a substantial total when play resumes.
Day 1 score
West Indies 235/4 in 70 overs (Amir Jangoo 111 not out, Kevin Wickham 61, Justin Greaves 35 not out; Hasan Mahmud 2/58, Taskin Ahmed 2/61) vs Bangladesh.
