Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s five-wicket haul in the second innings set up Bangladesh’s historic nine-wicket victory over top-ranked Australia in the first Test at the Marrara Stadium in Darwin on Sunday.
Having been bowled out for just 54 in their warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI, Bangladesh, the number nine ranked team, were set a target of 57 after Australia were dismissed for 284 runs in their second innings.
Tanzid Hasan, who had scored a century in the first innings, was bowled by Josh Hazlewood without scoring, becoming only the sixth Bangladeshi batter to score a hundred and a duck in the same Test.
But Shadman Islam’s unbeaten 25 and Mominul Haque’s 30 guided Bangladesh over the line before the scheduled tea-break, completing one of the greatest days in the country’s cricket history.
Playing their first Test in Australia since 2003, Bangladesh became only the fourth team after India, West Indies and England to win a Test in the country since 2018. It was also their second Test victory over Australia, following their famous win in Mirpur in 2017.
Resuming the day on 161-4, Australia were reduced to 243-7 at lunch, holding a lead of only 15 runs.
Miraz, who had claimed the prized wicket of Steven Smith on the previous evening, broke Australia’s only 50-run partnership of the innings with a classic off-spinning delivery when he had Alex Carey for 30.
He angled the ball in from round the wicket before getting it to straighten sharply, taking the edge of Carey’s bat for Litton Das to complete a sharp catch.
The off-spinner struck again soon after, beating Beau Webster’s outside edge to take the off stump, before having Australian captain Pat Cummins caught at forward short leg to leave the hosts reeling at 207-7.
Still 21 runs behind, Australia were staring down the barrel of an innings defeat.
Green, however, brought Australia level with a couple off Miraz, just one ball before the second new ball became available.
Taskin Ahmed provided Bangladesh with the breakthrough soon after the break, forcing an edge off Mitchell Starc.
Green, meanwhile, completed his century by taking a couple off Taskin. The all-rounder’s innings came at a time when there had been considerable speculation over his place in the Australian side.
His resistance ended soon after, however, when he failed to defend a Hasan Mahmud delivery that stayed low. Miraz then trapped Nathan Lyon lbw to complete his five-wicket haul and wrap up the Australian innings.
Miraz finished with a figure of 5-66, while Hasan took three for 56, following his 6-55 in the first innings. The pacer also registered the best match bowling figure by a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test.
Australia had earlier been bowled out for 198 in their first innings before Bangladesh posted 426 to take a commanding 228-run lead, thanks to Tanzid's maiden Test hundred.
