Bangladesh Closes In on First Test Victory in Australia

On the fourth day of the first Test in Darwin, Bangladesh’s off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed three wickets, reducing Australia to 243-7 at the lunch interval. After Australia had added 82 runs to reach 161-4, Miraz dismissed Alex Carey, Beau Webster and, later, Nathan Lyon, leaving the hosts still trailing Bangladesh’s first-innings total by 15 runs. Cameron Green’s unbeaten 104 and Mitchell Starc’s 18-run contribution provided the only substantial resistance, but the Australian side remained under pressure as the match edged toward a historic outcome.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes 3 wickets to have Australia on the ropes at lunch on Day 4 of 1st test France 24

Bangladesh entered the series with no previous Test win on Australian soil and were widely dismissed as under-dogs. Their sole warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI ended in a heavy defeat, highlighted by a second-innings collapse for 54 runs. Nevertheless, Bangladesh outperformed Australia in every session—batting, bowling and fielding—throughout the Test. In the first innings, Australia were bowled out for 198, while Bangladesh posted a commanding 426, anchored by opener Tanzid Hasan’s maiden Test century. The visitors also kept Australia batting for 138 overs in the humid Darwin conditions.

France 24Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes 3 wickets to have Australia on the ropes at lunch on Day 4 of 1st test

• Australia’s first-innings total: 198 (all out)

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• Bangladesh’s first-innings total: 426 (led by Tanzid Hasan’s 100)

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• Australia’s Day 4 score at lunch: 243-7, 15 runs ahead of Bangladesh’s lead

Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes 3 wickets to have Australia on the ropes at lunch on Day 4 of 1st test

• Cameron Green’s score: 104 (not out)

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• Mitchell Starc’s score: 18 (caught behind)

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• Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s figures: 4-50 in the first innings, 3 wickets on Day 4 (including Carey, Webster, Lyon)

Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes 3 wickets to have Australia on the ropes at lunch on Day 4 of 1st test

A Bangladesh victory would mark the nation’s first Test win in Australia, challenging the long-standing dominance of the host side on home turf. It would also underscore Bangladesh’s growing competitiveness in overseas conditions, reflecting improvements in batting depth, spin bowling effectiveness, and fielding standards. The result could influence future tour selections and bolster confidence ahead of upcoming series for both teams.

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