Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc helped Australia recover before lunch after Mehidy Hasan Miraz had pushed Bangladesh into a strong position on day four of the first Test in Darwin.
Australia reached 243/7 at lunch, taking a lead of 15 runs after starting the day 67 runs behind.
Bangladesh dominated the early part of the session. Miraz removed Alex Carey for 30, Beau Webster for five and Pat Cummins for eight to leave Australia in deep trouble.
However, Green continued to resist. He completed his fifty from 109 balls and then increased the scoring rate as the session moved on.
Starc also gave him useful support after Cummins fell at 207/7.
The pair wiped out Bangladesh’s first innings lead and then moved Australia ahead. Green remained unbeaten on 85 at lunch, while Starc was not out on 14.
Bangladesh took the second new ball after 80 overs, with Hasan Mahmud operating from one end and Miraz from the other.
But the harder ball also made scoring easier for Australia. Green struck Hasan for a boundary before continuing to rotate the strike.
Australia added 36 runs without losing another wicket after Cummins’ dismissal.
Bangladesh still remained in a strong position after taking three wickets in the session, but Green’s resistance ensured Australia stayed alive in the match heading into the afternoon.
