On Saturday, spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the crucial wicket of Steve Smith, leaving Australia at 161-4 at the end of the third day of the first Test in Darwin. Australia now trails by 67 runs in their second innings, with Cameron Green at 43 and Alex Carey on 19.
Earlier, Bangladesh was bowled out for 426 shortly after lunch. Seamer Hasan Mahmud delivered a stunning performance, claiming both Australian openers early in the innings. Hasan, who achieved a career-best 6-55 in the first innings, dismissed Jake Weatherald for 0 and Travis Head for 17, with both players chopping the ball onto their stumps.
After Bangladesh were well beaten by a Cricket Australia XI in their only warm-up match, many expected this Test to be an easy Australia victory. Smith, so often Australia’s saviour, batted sensibly but with the score on 122 he got a leading edge to off-spinner Mehidy and chipped it straight back to the bowler, gone for 44. But the unfancied visitors bowled the hosts out for 198 on the first day and then showed great dedication with the bat to keep the home side in the field for 138 overs. After defying the Australians for over an hour in the final session Friday, Hasan lasted just four overs of the first session Saturday before being trapped leg before by Hazlewood, adding one run to his overnight score of 13.
“The way we showed character and the way we played for the last two or three days was outstanding,” visiting captain Najmul Hossain Shanto told Fox Sports.
Labuschagne, who has been out of form and seen his place in the team increasingly come into question, eased to 31 before playing over the top of a straight ball from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and being bowled. When he was finally dismissed for 65 by Josh Hazlewood shortly after lunch, he had helped put his team into a strong position halfway through the match.
“It was pretty hard work out there on that track,” Hazlewood told Fox.
