Bangladesh edge toward historic first Test victory in Australia
Bangladesh moved closer to a first Test win in Australia when Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed Steve Smith on day three of the first Test in Darwin as Australia closed on 161-4, still 67 runs short of Bangladesh's first-innings total.
The match at the Marrara Oval is the opening game of a two-Test series and is scheduled for five days; Bangladesh remain seeking a first-ever Test victory on Australian soil. Scorelines at stumps read Australia 198 (Smith 71; Hasan Mahmud 6-55) and 161-4 (Green 43*; Mahmud 2-33) and Bangladesh 426 (Tanzid 101, Shanto 84, Miraz 65; Josh Hazlewood 6-89). Australia have never lost a home Test to Bangladesh, their only defeat to the Tigers coming in six previous meetings at Mirpur in 2017.
Miraz claimed the key wicket of Smith when the Australia captain chipped a leading edge back to the off-spinner and was out for 44, leaving the visitors 122-4 in the second innings. Marnus Labuschagne and Smith had put together a recovery before Taijul Islam bowled Labuschagne for 31, and Smith faced 88 balls for his 44.
Australia withstood the remainder of the session but still face a significant deficit, finishing the day 67 behind Bangladesh's first-innings 426. All-rounder Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 43 and wicketkeeper Alex Carey was on 19 at close; Green's place in the side had been questioned prior to the series, but he and Carey defended well together to see the hosts to stumps.
Earlier on day three Bangladesh added 75 to their overnight 351-6 and were dismissed for 426 shortly after lunch. Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 65 from 154 balls, shepherding the tail as the lower order frustrated Australia's attack, and Hazlewood returned figures of 6-89 while claiming his 300th Test wicket.
After Bangladesh's innings ended, 26-year-old Hasan Mahmud struck early in Australia's reply, bowling Jake Weatherald for 0 and Travis Head for 17 as both batsmen were bowled when they chopped on to their stumps; Mahmud had taken a career-best 6-55 in the first innings. Mahmud finished the second-innings spell with figures of 2-33 as he helped reduce the hosts to four down.
Bangladesh players celebrated vocally on the Marrara Oval surface following Smith's dismissal, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto reflected on his side's form, saying: "The way we showed character and played the last two, three days I think is outstanding. So, really happy to see them play like this," Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said.
Australia will resume on day four at 161-4, still 67 runs behind with six wickets in hand, seeking to avoid a first home Test defeat to Bangladesh.
