Bangladesh maintained firm control of the first Test against Australia despite late resistance from the hosts on Day 3 in Darwin. The visitors reduced Australia to 161 for 4 at stumps, leaving the home side 67 runs behind with six wickets remaining.
Australia vs Bangladesh, 1st Test Day 3: Highlights
Bangladesh started the day with a 153-run lead and extended it to 228 before losing their final second-innings wicket. Their lower order kept Australia in the field for extended spells, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz top-scoring with a gritty 65.
Australia’s attack worked hard on a surface that remained favourable for batting, with Josh Hazlewood once again the standout bowler. The fast bowler took 6 for 89, sweeping through Bangladesh’s lower order and bringing up his 300th Test wicket in the process.
Hazlewood became only the ninth Australian bowler to reach the 300-wicket mark, joining active teammates Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins in the milestone club.
Australia’s reply, however, started poorly. Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud, who took 6 for 55 in the first innings, struck twice with the new ball. He bowled Jake Weatherald for a duck and removed Travis Head for 17 to give Bangladesh an immediate lift.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith then steadied the innings and absorbed the early pressure. Labuschagne scored 31 while Smith added 44 as the pair put together a solid third-wicket stand.
Bangladesh’s spin attack broke through just as the partnership threatened to take control of the innings. Taijul Islam removed Labuschagne before Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed Smith, putting Australia under pressure once again.
With four wickets down, Cameron Green and Alex Carey came together at a tricky moment. The pair survived a testing final spell to combine for an unbeaten 39-run partnership by stumps and keep Australia’s hopes alive.
Australia still need 67 runs to erase the deficit and take the lead. With the pitch expected to offer more assistance to the bowlers as the game wears on, the hosts face a demanding fourth morning.
Hazlewood completed his six-wicket haul by removing Hasan Mahmud for 14, while his 300th Test wicket placed him among Australia’s elite bowlers. Among Australians to reach the mark, only Pat Cummins, Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee have a lower bowling average than Hazlewood’s 24.02.
“You don’t really think about those sort of milestones when you’re playing,” Hazlewood told Kayo Sports. “I guess it’s probably something you look back on at the end.
“But I guess just to see the other names there, and I’m playing with three of them, so yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Bangladesh hold the upper hand heading into Day 4, but Australia still have six wickets in hand and enough time to stage a turnaround. The visitors need six wickets to complete what would be a historic Test victory, while Australia’s immediate task is to survive the opening session and build a lead.
– Ends
