Bangladesh seize control after Australia collapse on day 1 in Darwin Test

DARWIN : Bangladesh made a stunning start to their first Test series in Australia for 23 years on Thursday, bowling out the world’s top-ranked side for 198 before reaching 96-1 at stumps on the opening day in Darwin.

Hasan Mahmud led the Bangladesh attack with a career-best 6-55 at Marrara Oval, helping dismiss Australia for their lowest total in seven Tests against Bangladesh.

Mahmud’s haul was the third-best by a Bangladesh fast bowler in Test cricket and included the key wicket of Steve Smith, who top-scored for Australia with 71.

Australia struggled after captain Pat Cummins elected to bat on a slow, green-tinged pitch. Opener Jake Weatherald, playing the first Test in his home city of Darwin, made 23 before falling, while all-rounder Cameron Green was dismissed for 13.

“Not our best. Still plenty of cricket to be played, obviously,” Smith said.

Bangladesh’s top order responded with patience against Australia’s pace attack of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, alongside spinner Nathan Lyon.

Starc claimed the only Bangladesh wicket, dismissing Shadman Islam for 20, but Tanzid Hasan, unbeaten on 32, and Mominul Haque, on 35, put together an unbroken 60-run partnership.

Starc’s dismissal of Shadman took his career tally to 434 Test wickets, making him the most successful left-arm bowler in the format, surpassing Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath.

Bangladesh’s strong finish was a sharp contrast to their 54 all out in the second innings of last weekend’s warm-up defeat by a Cricket Australia XI.