DARWIN, Australia – The opening Test match of Bangladesh’s two-game ‘Top End’ series against Australia has been defined by relentless visitor dominance, a trend that only strengthened through the morning session of Day Three Saturday, when half-century from all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz guided the Tigers to a 219-run first innings lead heading into lunch.
Resuming play on Saturday at 351 for six wickets, Bangladesh steadily added 66 runs to their total before the break, reaching 417 for eight. The performance extended what has been a lopsided opening match from the first day, when hosts Australia won the toss, elected to bat, and were bowled out for just 198 by a sharp Bangladesh attack led by a six-wicket haul from Hasan Mahmud.
Mehidy remained unbeaten at 65 runs off 152 deliveries when the session closed, capping his solid innings with a towering six off Australian all-rounder Cameron Green on the final ball of the morning. The batter brought up his half-century just 35 balls before lunch, notching five boundaries along the way to the milestone. He currently shares an unbeaten 45-run partnership with tailender Taskin Ahmed, who has compiled 12 not out at the break.
Earlier in the session, Mehidy combined for a 46-run stand with Hasan Mahmud, who scored 14 before falling to pace bowler Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood, making his return to Test cricket after a spell on the sidelines with injury, trapped Hasan Mahmud leg before wicket with a full, straight delivery to claim his third wicket of the innings. The seamer also removed Taijul Islam, who made 17 before Green caught the batter at gully. Hazlewood has now claimed four wickets for 86 runs in the innings, the only wicket-taker for Australia on Saturday.
Australia’s sloppy fielding has once again undermined the hosts’ chances to claw back into the match. Dropped catches from star batters Steve Smith, Travis Head and Cameron Green on Friday halted any momentum Australia built during a brief late-day rally, allowing Bangladesh to consolidate and build an almost unassailable position in the first innings. The hosts have now been outplayed in all three facets of the game – batting, bowling and fielding – through the first two and a half days of the series opener.
This opening Test kicks off a grueling 12-month schedule for the Australian men’s Test side, which is set to play 20 total matches across the year including away tours to South Africa, India and England. Related matches in the series have already seen Bangladesh take control from the first day, with opener Tanzid Hasan notching his maiden Test century earlier in the first innings to set the foundation for the Tigers’ big total.