August 16, 2026 — 11:47am
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
AAA
Darwin: Australia appear headed for a vast and humiliating defeat by Bangladesh, with the tourists requiring just 57 runs for victory on day four of the first Test.
Cameron Green (104) was the lone source of substantial resistance for the Australians, who briefly glimpsed the possibility of an innings defeat before they were bowled out for 284.
Cameron Green is trying to keep Australia in the Test match.Getty Images
All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5-66) bowled magnificently for Bangladesh, getting some deliveries to turn sharply out of the footmarks and others to skid through straight. With the benefit of scoreboard pressure, he has comfortably out-bowled Nathan Lyon.
First innings hero Hasan Mahmud (3-56) was also a vital contributor, finishing the match with nine wickets, including the final hammer blow to remove Green.
Alex Carey never looked to be in command, and twice edged Mahmud through the slips before Mehidy dismissed him with a classical off-break that took an edge behind.
Green was more solid, and played one nicely down the ground to raise his first Test match 50 since the tour of the West Indies over a year ago.
Beau Webster hit one boundary but was then befuddled by another beauty from Mehidy, a slightly quicker off-break that drifted then skidded through to beat the outside edge and flick the off stump.
That brought skipper Pat Cummins to the crease, with little short of a miracle required to avoid defeat. He never looked comfortable, beaten several times before propping forward and squeezing a bat-pad catch to forward short leg.
Mitchell Starc then joined Green at the crease, and together they were at least able to ensure that Bangladesh would have to bat again in pursuit of their first-ever Test match victory in Australia.
Editor’s pick
Any grand thoughts of a big stand were soon extinguished, however, as senior paceman Taskin Ahmed coaxed a thin outside edge from Starc (18). Nathan Lyon narrowly avoided a run out, before Green unfurled a superb pull shot for six to move into the 90s.
A pair of twos, the second of them tight, then took Green to his first Test hundred in Australia, an excellent innings that showcased why he is the future of the batting line-up. He marked the moment with a clenched fist before acknowledging a strong ovation from the Darwin faithful.
Bangladesh bit back soon after, as Mahmud got a delivery to skid through low on the day four pitch and it deflected onto the stumps from the bottom of Green’s bat. Mehidy finished the job with a flatter delivery, that pinned Lyon (15) in front of middle stump as he tried to sweep.
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Daniel Brettig is The Age’s chief cricket writer and the author of several books on cricket.Connect via X.From our partners