- It became the second-shortest Test ever played on Australian soil after Bangladesh were bundled for 95 on the second day
Australia bounced back from the Darwin loss and levelled the Test series against Bangladesh with an innings-and-51-run win in under two days. Mitchell Starc led the onslaught with his fourth 10-wicket haul which made it the second-shortest Test on Australian soil.
Starc finished with 10 for 51, as Nathan Lyon wrapped up Bangladesh with two quick wickets shortly after tea. Having being bundled for 64 and 95, it became the first time Bangladesh got bowled out for under 100 in both innings of a Test, while Australia’s 210 is the fourth-lowest total in an innings win.
Bangladesh had taken the last two Australia wickets in the morning but after the hosts added 45 runs, led by Lyon’s unbeaten 32. Australia’s total of 210 gave them a lead of 146 which Bangladesh couldn’t get close to.
Starc was relentless again from the start of Bangladesh’s second innings. Shadman Islam was squared up once again, giving Marnus Labuschagne a simple catch at point. Mominul Haque was bowled next ball, leaving a fuller length ball that nipped in to clip his off stump. Tanzid Hasan holed out at deep fine leg, when he hooked Pat Cummins in his first over.
Najmul Hossain Shanto counterattacked from the other end, hitting Starc for five boundaries which included four good drives down the ground and a streaky edge through the slips. Looking to force the issue after lunch, Shanto chipped Lyon right down long-off’s throat, for 31. Litton Das was next to go, Starc getting him to edge to third slip for his third duck in a row. Litton didn’t score a single run in the Test series.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz edged a wide one from an otherwise parsimonious Cummins, who then got Hasan Mahmud gloving a sharp bouncer to short leg. Starc started his third spell with Taijul Islam’s wicket, to complete his match 10-wicket haul.
Bangladesh lasted just three balls after the tea break. Lyon picked up his second wicket when Taskin Ahmed edged one to Steven Smith at first slip. It was his 219th catch, taking him to the top of the list of most Test catches, level with Joe Root. Starc then took his fourth catch in the innings when Shoriful Islam skied Lyon towards point, to end the Bangladesh innings.
Australia began the day with just two wickets in hand in their first innings, but Cameron Green and Lyon made the best of their situation. They put on 38 runs for the ninth wicket, with Green reaching an important half-century. He struck the ball nicely in the morning session, before a Shoriful yorker floored Green to trap him lbw. Lyon then smacked Taskin for a four and a six in a 17-run over before Josh Hazlewood became the last wicket to fall.
Shoriful grabbed career-best figures of 7 for 47 in a match that will otherwise be remembered for Starc’s haul that made it an otherwise forgettable game for Bangladesh.
Scores
Australia 210 (Green 67, Smith 42, Shoriful 7-48) beat Bangladesh 64 (Starc 6-12, Cummins 3-25) and 95 (Shanto 31, Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25) by an innings and 51 runs.
