Windies’ Jangoo credits hard work for historic century

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

The West Indies capped off a commanding 3-0 ODI series victory against Bangladesh here Thursday, with debutant Amir Jangoo stealing the spotlight. The left-handed Trinidadian batsman etched his name in the record books by becoming only the second West Indian in history, after Desmond Haynes, to score a century on debut.

Reflecting on his milestone, Jangoo described the moment as a dream come true. “It’s an amazing feeling. Scoring a century on debut is something that people only dream of. Growing up, all I wanted to do was play for the West Indies, and knowing that I could score a century in my first game is just incredible.”

Jangoo’s confidence at the crease was evident, particularly after reaching his half-century. “Once I got past 50, I felt confident. The wicket was a belter and kudos to the groundsmen for preparing such a good pitch. I just focused on rotating the strike early and capitalising on boundary opportunities.”

The 26-year-old’s composed unbeaten knock of 104 came at a critical juncture for the team, who found themselves in trouble early at 86 for four.

His 132-run fifth-wicket partnership with Keacy Carty steadied the innings and paved the way for the historic 300-plus run chase. While Carty fell short of his century after scoring 95, Jangoo was quick to credit his teammate’s contribution.

“Carty is such a class player, and he helped us win today. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to triple figures, but he played a big role in the victory.”

The West Indies’ four-wicket victory was not just about individual brilliance as it showcased the team’s collective character and resilience.

Head coach Daren Sammy and captain Shai Hope have emphasised the importance of consistency in the team’s journey to becoming a dominant force in world cricket, and Jangoo is the first to admit that he has bought into the philosophy.

“The key for us is consistency for us to be a great team, and we’re working towards that. We have to win these kinds of series and win them well. This 3-0 victory is a step in the right direction.”

Jangoo’s call-up to the national team came after a stellar Super50 Cup campaign, where he demonstrated remarkable consistency. His debut century was a culmination of months of hard work and preparation.

“It goes to show I’ve been batting well and was ready for my chance. It’s amazing to see that the hard work is paying off.”

As the team looks ahead, Jangoo hopes his dream debut inspires others to aim high. “Dream big and work hard. That’s what I did, and it’s surreal to be here today.”