Smith 71 as Hasan Mahmud’s six rips through Australia on day one in Darwin

Steve Smith top-scored with 71 as Bangladesh paceman Hasan Mahmud took six wickets to bowl Australia out for 198 on day one of the first Test at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, and the tourists ended the day 96 for 1 in reply.

Hasan Mahmud finished with 6 for 55, the 26-year-old’s best Test figures in an innings, after Pat Cummins won the toss and Australia were dismissed in 53 overs. Smith led the scoring with 71 and remains without a Test century against Bangladesh, the only one of the nine Test-playing nations he has yet to reach the milestone.

Australia were 74 for 4 at lunch as Bangladesh struck early. Jake Weatherald was out for 23 off 37 when he edged Mahmud on the brink of drinks, Travis Head was 22 when he chopped on to Mahmud after the bowler went around the wicket, Marnus Labuschagne made 1 edging to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto off Ebadot Hossain, and Cameron Green miscued a 13 to mid-wicket.

Ebadot finished with 2 for 39 and Taskin Ahmed and Mahmud formed a pace trio that bowled well on a surface that assisted the seam bowlers. Ebadot should have had Smith for two early on but the chance was spilled by Tanzid Hasan at third slip, and Bangladesh then lost a second review when Smith was given not out on seven after a review; Snicko showed nothing on his outside edge. Ebadot cleaned up Alex Carey for 19 after lunch and Taskin castled Beau Webster for 12, while Pat Cummins (9) and Mitchell Starc (1) both nicked off to Mahmud before tea.

Smith had a few nervous moments during his innings before finishing on 71. He struck Taijal Islam over the ropes and then through the covers in the spinner’s first over of left-arm spin, and was eventually out skying a swat off Mahmud as he sought runs with the tail.

Bangladesh went on the attack in their reply and closed the day at 96 for 1 with Tanzid Hasan 32 not out and Mominul Haque 35 not out. Shadman Islam made a breezy 20 before Mitchell Starc dismissed him, bringing Starc’s Test wicket total to 434, the most ever by a left-arm bowler.

The match was the first Test played at the Marrara venue since 2004 and only the third Test in Darwin’s history, after Bangladesh were the first visiting side there in 2003.