Shoriful Islam’s 7/48 hands Bangladesh 146-run lead after bowling Australia out for 210 in Mackay Test

Shoriful Islam took 7/48 for Bangladesh against Australia at Mackay on Sunday, August 23, bowling the hosts out for 210 and giving Bangladesh a 146-run first-innings lead after they had been dismissed for 64. The left-arm pacer’s career-best figures were central to Australia being dismissed before lunch on Day 2 of the second Test.

Australia resumed on 165/8, added 45 runs in 12.3 overs and were bowled out before lunch, with Shoriful completing his seven-wicket haul by trapping Cameron Green lbw for 67 with an inswinging yorker. Taijul Islam removed Josh Hazlewood for six to finish the innings, while Nathan Lyon remained unbeaten on 32 and, alongside Hazlewood, put on a 24-run partnership for the 10th wicket that ensured Australia crossed 200.

Shoriful’s 7/48 was the first seven-wicket innings by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia and became the best innings figures by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test, surpassing Taijul Islam’s 7/138 against Zimbabwe earlier this year. The spell stands out against the recent backdrop of Bangladesh’s bowling performances in the series.

Hasan Mahmud had recorded 6/55 in the first Test in Darwin, which until Mackay had been the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia in Tests; his nine wickets in that match contributed to Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win in Australia. Shoriful’s effort in Mackay improved on those benchmarks and was the best by a visiting bowler against Australia since Curtly Ambrose’s 7/25 in 1993.

Australia had fallen to 41/3 before Steve Smith and Cameron Green added a 77-run partnership; Smith made 42 off 74 balls with six fours, and Green scored 67 from 105 balls with 10 boundaries. Shoriful broke that stand and finished with seven wickets, his victims including several key members of the Australian batting order.

Bangladesh’s lead was trimmed early in their second innings when Mitchell Starc struck twice in the third over, having Shadman Islam caught by Marnus Labuschagne for one and then bowling Mominul Haque for a duck with the next delivery. Pat Cummins then removed Tanzid Hasan for nine, caught by Starc at deep fine leg after a miscued pull, leaving Bangladesh 39/3 at lunch, still 107 runs ahead, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto unbeaten on 23 and Mushfiqur Rahim on four.

Starc’s six-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings and Shoriful’s record-breaking response in Mackay have added to the contest between the two bowling attacks. Bangladesh now lead the two-match series 1-0 after their nine-wicket victory in Darwin.