Darwin has witnessed a moment Bangladesh cricket will cherish forever. Twenty-three years after first facing Australia in a Test on Australian soil, Bangladesh have returned to the country and delivered a stunning nine-wicket victory over the reigning World Test champions on their home turf.
Chasing just 57 in the fourth innings, Bangladesh lost only Tanzid Hasan’s wicket before completing a historic nine-wicket victory, their first-ever Test win over Australia on Australian soil.
It was a victory built on a remarkable all-round performance, with Hasan Mahmud’s six-wicket haul in the first innings and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s five-wicket burst in the second setting up a finish that turned a long-awaited dream into reality.
It was a remarkable performance from a side ranked ninth in the world against the top-ranked Test team. For four days, Bangladesh held their nerve, outplayed Australia in every department and turned what had seemed an ambitious target into an unforgettable achievement.
The foundations of the victory were laid on the opening day when Bangladesh’s pace attack tore through Australia’s batting. Hasan Mahmud produced a career-best six-wicket haul as the hosts were bowled out for just 198. It was the first time a Bangladesh pace bowler had taken a five-wicket haul in a Test in Australia.
Bangladesh then took complete control with the bat. Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck a historic century, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added half-centuries. Bangladesh eventually made 426, taking a huge 228-run first-innings lead.
Their innings also lasted 138 overs, the most by a visiting side in Australia in the last seven and a half years, underlining the control Bangladesh had established over the contest.
Australia began their second innings with a mountain to climb and briefly threatened to make Bangladesh work for the victory. Cameron Green was the main obstacle, holding the innings together as wickets fell around him.
Bangladesh, however, kept applying pressure. Miraz struck three times in the opening session of the fourth day, removing Alex Carey, Beau Webster and Pat Cummins.
Carey was caught behind for 30, ending a 56-run partnership with Green, the highest stand of the match. Miraz then produced a superb delivery to bowl Webster before dismissing Cummins, who was caught at short leg after an inside edge.
Green and Mitchell Starc then added 36 before lunch, taking Australia past Bangladesh’s first-innings total and briefly putting the hosts ahead.
Taskin Ahmed ended that partnership early in the second session, having Starc caught behind for 18 off 34 balls. Green continued to fight, though, reaching his third Test century and his first on Australian soil from 192 balls, with four fours and a six.
But his resistance finally ended when Hasan Mahmud returned for a new spell and bowled him with his fifth delivery. Green made 104, having carried Australia’s hopes almost single-handedly.
Miraz then completed his five-wicket haul by trapping Nathan Lyon lbw, bowling Australia out for 284. The hosts had managed only a 56-run lead, leaving Bangladesh just 57 to win.
The chase began badly when Josh Hazlewood bowled Tanzid in the second over, giving Australia a brief glimpse of hope. But Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque ensured there would be no late drama.
The two left-handers attacked positively and took Bangladesh steadily towards the finish. Shadman remained unbeaten on 25 off 42 balls, while Mominul made 30 from 39.
Mominul then sealed the historic victory in style, cutting Beau Webster through square for four as Bangladesh completed a nine-wicket win.
Twenty-three years after Bangladesh’s previous Test tour of Australia ended in defeats in Darwin and Cairns, they returned to the country and produced a result few would have dared to predict.
Hasan Mahmud’s six-for, Tanzid’s century, Miraz’s match-winning all-round display and the composure of Bangladesh’s batters combined to deliver a landmark victory. Australia may have entered the series as the world’s top-ranked Test side, but in Darwin, Bangladesh had the final say.
