The final One Day International of the Bangladesh tour of the West Indies was a thrilling, high-scoring encounter, with both teams staging remarkable comebacks throughout the match. However, it was one unforgettable inning that stole the spotlight. In a stunning turn of events, 27-year-old Amir Jango, making his international debut, delivered a match-winning century that left everyone in awe. His sensational knock led the West Indies to victory and secured a historic whitewash over Bangladesh, capping off a memorable series.
Bangladesh's Resilient Middle Order Shines!
The West Indies opted to bowl first at Warner Park, where the surface was well-suited for batting. Bangladesh got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets quickly and finding themselves at 9/2, thanks to Alzaari Joseph's impressive bowling with the new ball. Sowmya Sarkar and Mehidy Hasan Miraz then came together in the middle, both looking in good form after the early setbacks.
Sowmya Sarkar, who had been struggling for consistency, performed well in this innings, reaching his fifty alongside Mehidy. The two built a strong partnership, putting together 136 runs off 127 balls for the third wicket before Gudakesh Motie dismissed the well-settled Sowmya Sarkar for a solid 73 off 73 balls.
Despite this breakthrough, Bangladesh continued to bat confidently, regularly finding the boundary. Following the strong foundation laid by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sowmya Sarkar, veteran Mahmudullah and 26-year-old Jaker Ali formed a remarkable partnership. Together, they added 150 runs off 115 balls for the fifth wicket, leading Bangladesh to a total of 321/5 in 50 overs. Four Bangladesh batters scored the fifties in the innings, and they achieved an impressive 88 runs off the last eight overs to surpass the 300-run mark—a total that had not been chased successfully at this venue before the previous night.
With their confident batting performance, Bangladesh was pleased with their score, and the team appeared satisfied as they prepared to defend their substantial total.
Amir Jango’s Memorable Debut
The target of 322 runs on the board made the West Indies team look confident, especially since they had already won the series and were ready to put up a fight. They started strong, scoring 19 runs in the first 2 overs. However, Bangladesh's Hasan Mahmud claimed their first breakthrough, leading to a collapse for the West Indies as they lost three wickets for just 12 runs, bringing the score to 31/3 in 5 overs. It was a mixed performance from the West Indies as they tried to approach this target aggressively, which resulted in those early wickets.
Star batter Sherfane Rutherford and Keacy Carty then steadied the innings, putting together a 50-run partnership before Rutherford lost his wicket. At this point, the target seemed far away for the home team, having lost their in-form batter and nearly half their side. Little did anyone know that debutant Amir Jango's innings would turn the game around.
Amir Jango formed an impressive partnership with Carty, with Carty being the aggressor. Unfortunately, Carty missed a well-deserved century, getting out for 95 off 88 balls, which also ended their 132-run partnership. Roston Chase followed Carty back to the pavilion but Jango was in his element, striking the ball powerfully. Soon, he was joined by Gudakesh Motie, who also hit the ball hard.
With this impressive display of hitting, Amir Jango reached his maiden century with a six on his debut. This inning was remarkable, especially given he came in when his team was down by four wickets while chasing a hefty target. His innings showcased both maturity and intent. The dressing room was elated by his effort, and shortly after, Gudakesh Motie finished the chase in style with another six, completing a clean sweep for the West Indies with a 3-0 series victory.
This was the first time a 300+ target was chased down at Warner Park, marking a record match. The 134-run partnership between Keacy Carty and Amir Jango was the game-changer, and Bangladesh could not recover after dominating early on. Amir Jango was awarded the Player of the Match, while Sherfane Rutherford was named Player of the Series, leaving the West Indies camp ecstatic during the trophy celebrations.
The final ODI of the Bangladesh tour of the West Indies was a fitting end to an exhilarating series, with Amir Jango's match-winning debut century etching his name into the history books. Bangladesh's middle order showed remarkable resilience, fighting back in the high-scoring thriller, but ultimately falling short. As the West Indies completed a dominant whitewash, the action shifted to the T20I format. Stay tuned in this space as the excitement continues with a thrilling 3-match T20I series set to unfold!
