1
The Bangladesh team in Darwin seemed a stark contrast to the one in Mackay. The same team that made history by defeating Australia on Australian soil brought back the painful memory of 23 years ago in Mackay. After dominating with both bat and ball for four days in the first Test, Bangladesh suffered an innings and 51-run defeat at the Great Barrier Reef Arena even before the second day concluded.
With this victory, Australia leveled the two-match series 1-1. Bangladesh’s dream of a whitewash also came to an end with the disappointing loss in Mackay.
In their second innings, Bangladesh effectively lost control of the match by losing five wickets for just 31 runs. Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, and Taijul Islam all returned to the pavilion one after another. With Bangladesh eight wickets down for just 82 runs, an innings defeat was only a matter of time. Despite Mushfiqur Rahim remaining unbeaten on 29 and Taskin Ahmed on 8, they could not save the team.
Nathan Lyon broke Shanto’s 27-run partnership with Mushfiq. Liton Das then registered his third consecutive duck, getting out to Mitchell Starc. Pat Cummins then claimed two wickets in consecutive overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was caught in Alex Carey’s gloves after scoring 1 run off Cummins’ delivery. In the very next wicket, Hasan Mahmud was caught by Travis Head at short leg for 2 runs.
Taijul Islam then attempted to build some resistance with Mushfiq. However, after scoring 7 runs from 24 balls, he was bowled by Starc. With this wicket, the Aussie pacer completed his tenth wicket haul in the match.
Earlier, at the end of the first session on day two, Bangladesh’s second innings score stood at 39 for 3 wickets. Shanto was unbeaten on 23, and Mushfiq on 4. Bangladesh began their second innings batting with a deficit of 146 runs, after Australia were all out for 210.
The visitors came under fire from Starc right from the start. The left-arm pacer took two wickets in consecutive deliveries in the third over. After having Sadman Islam caught by Marnus Labuschagne at point for 1 run, he bowled Mominul Haque’s off-stump with the very next ball. Losing two wickets for just 5 runs, Bangladesh was under immense pressure.
Captain Shanto then increased the team’s scoring rate with aggressive batting, even hitting two consecutive fours off Starc in the ninth over. However, Tanzid Hasan Tamim couldn’t provide much support. In the eighth over, he was caught by Starc near the boundary off Pat Cummins’ bowling. The opener scored 9 runs from 34 balls.
Tanzid, who scored a century in the first innings in Darwin, then registered two consecutive ducks. Although he opened his scoring account in Mackay, he failed to reach double figures.
Earlier in Australia’s first innings, Shoriful Islam delivered a brilliant bowling performance for Bangladesh. He set a new record for the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi pacer in Tests, taking 7 wickets for 48 runs. In their own first innings, Bangladesh had been bowled out for just 64 runs.
Australia began the second day’s play at 165 for 8 wickets. In the eighth over of the day, Shoriful dismissed the set batter Cameron Green. Bangladesh successfully reviewed an LBW appeal after it was initially turned down. Shoriful’s inswinging yorker struck Green’s toe, and Bangladesh won the review. Green departed after scoring 67 runs from 105 balls, including 10 fours.
Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood then added a 24-run partnership, further extending Australia’s lead. Lyon remained unbeaten on 32 runs, hitting four fours and one six from 62 balls. Taijul Islam concluded Australia’s innings by having Hazlewood caught by Sadman Islam for 6 runs.