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Amir Jangoo’s unbeaten century on debut completed the West Indies’ one-day international series sweep of Bangladesh at Warner Park on Thursday.
The West Indies already had the series in hand after chasing down 294 and 227 this week, and even after being a set a target of 322 it still cruised to victory.
Bangladesh finally put up a score the pitch deserved, 321-5 with four half-centuries, but the host overcame a wobbly start with a controlled chase that reached 325-6 with four overs to spare, as per an AP report.
The highest successful ODI run chase at Warner Park was also the third highest in West Indies ODI history.
Jangoo handled it like a seasoned pro, even though he came to bat in his first senior international with West Indies 86-4 in the 15th over.
Keacy Carty shepherded Jangoo and they combined for 132 runs until Carty fell for 95.
West Indies still needed 104 runs off 100 balls and Jangoo took up the reins. His unbeaten 104 off 83 balls was the second-highest score by a West Indian man in an ODI debut after Desmond Haynes’ 148 against Australia in 1978.
After Jangoo achieved his milestone, Gudakesh Motie finished off proceedings with 44 off 31 balls.
Because the series was won, Jangoo debuted after scoring 96, 70 not out, 111, and 93 not out for Trinidad and Tobago in 50-over matches in the last six weeks.
He and Carty had some luck. Carty was dropped on 22 and survived an lbw appeal on 73. Jangoo was dropped on 61, and Carty was out the next ball after slicing Rishad Hossain to backward point. Carty’s 95 came off 88 balls.
Jangoo and Motie kept the run rate on track until victory was in sight. Nerveless in the 90s, Jangoo’s fourth six, over long-on, gave him the hundred off 79 balls.
“It is surreal, an amazing feeling,” Jangoo said. “I just did not want to make a duck on debut. He (Carty) is a close friend of mine, made it easy for me.”
Bangladesh’s score was bolstered by two huge partnerships; 136 between Soumya Sarkar and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and 150 not out between Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali.
Sarkar was dropped off the fourth ball of the game, in the slips, before he scored, and turned it into 73 off 73 balls. Mehidy was run out for 77 off 73.
That brought together Mahmudullah and Jaker in the 31st over. As they warmed up they hit harder.
Mahmudullah achieved his fifth fifty in six appearances at Warner Park, and fourth straight fifty at the ground.
He and Jaker took 104 runs off the last 10 overs, 59 off the last four. Mahmudullah’s unbeaten 84 came off 63 balls, and Jaker’s unbeaten 62 off 57.
“Three fifties in this series (by Mahmudullah) is a good moment for our team,” Mehidy said. “We learn so many things from him.”