Bangladesh secured a historic nine-wicket victory over Australia after chasing down a target of 57 runs in the first Test in Darwin.
Australia were bowled out for 284 in their second innings, with Bangladesh completing the chase when Mominul Haque cut Beau Webster through backward point for the winning boundary.
The victory capped a dominant performance by Bangladesh, who had dismissed Australia for 198 in the first innings before posting 426 in reply. The visitors then maintained control with the ball to put Australia under sustained pressure.
Australia’s hopes rested largely on Cameron Green and Alex Carey when they resumed at 161-4 on Sunday. Carey survived early scares but was dismissed for 30 by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who produced a sharp-turning delivery that edged the batter through to wicketkeeper Litton Das.
Mehidy struck again soon afterwards, bowling Webster for five before dismissing Australia captain Pat Cummins for 14 to leave the hosts struggling at 207-7.
Green continued to resist and reached his third Test century, scoring 104, but received little support from the lower order. Hasan Mahmud eventually ended his innings when a delivery kept low and deflected from the toe of Green’s bat onto the stumps.
Mehidy then completed Australia’s innings by trapping Nathan Lyon leg before wicket, finishing with 5-66.
Bangladesh had entered the match as underdogs after suffering a heavy defeat against a Cricket Australia XI in their only warm-up game, including a second-innings collapse for 54.
However, they outperformed Australia in all three departments throughout the Test. Tanzid Hasan’s maiden Test century helped Bangladesh post 426 after Australia’s first-innings total of 198, while the visitors’ bowlers kept making regular breakthroughs.
Despite losing Tanzid in the opening over of the chase, Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam comfortably guided Bangladesh to victory, giving the visitors their first-ever Test win in Australia.
