Bangladesh have done it. Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Tigers have beaten Australia, one of Test cricket's Big Three, in their own backyard.
And they did it in style, winning by nine wickets in their first Test in Australia in 23 years. This is only Bangladesh's second Test victory over Australia and the first one on Australian soil.
After three and a half days of near-total dominance, the deserved winners were not the Australia of Starc, Cummins, Head and Lyon, but the Bangladesh of Mahmud, Miraz, Shanto and Taskin. A team expected to be overwhelmed instead stood up and changed the narrative.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz did much of the damage on the fourth morning, taking four of the six remaining Australian wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mahmud Hasan shared the other two as Bangladesh refused to let the hosts recover.
Chasing a modest target, Bangladesh suffered an early setback when first-innings centurion Tanzid Tamim was dismissed for a two-ball duck. But there was little else to trouble the visitors, who reached the target in just 14.2 overs.
Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 30 and Shadman Islam on 25 as Bangladesh sealed one of the most significant Test victories in their history.
This victory will rank as arguably the greatest victory in all of Bangladesh's cricket's history, not just in Tests. They were not invited to play a Test in Australia for 23 years, and when they were eventually, they had to play in Darwin, a venue which hosted the last of its two-Test matches 22 years back.
But over the last four days, the Tigers have proved that they deserve much better treatment, and that the victory in Mount Maunganui, followed most recently by two series whitewashes against Pakistan, were evidence of their improved stature in the longest format of the game.
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Shadman Islam drives one as Bangladesh motored along to victory. Photo: AFP......
Mehidy Hasan Miraz completed a five-wicket haul as Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 284 in their second innings on Day 4 of the first Test, leaving the Tigers needing just 57 runs for a historic first-ever Test victory in Australia at Marrara Stadium in Darwin today.
Miraz finished off the Australian innings by trapping Nathan Lyon lbw for 15. Lyon attempted a sweep but failed to make contact, with the ball striking him plumb in front. The batter reviewed the on-field decision, but DRS confirmed that the ball would have hit the stumps, leaving the decision unchanged.
The dismissal capped a brilliant spell from Miraz, who had earlier removed Alex Carey, Beau Webster, and Australia skipper Pat Cummins earlier in the day to keep Bangladesh firmly in control. Miraz, who had taken the wicket of Steve Smith the day before, ended with figures of five for 66 in 33.1 overs.
Australia had briefly threatened to build a sizeable lead through Green, who brought up his third Test century and first on home soil before Hasan Mahmud ended his resistance.
Green reached his hundred by pushing a back-of-a-length delivery from Taskin Ahmed towards midwicket for a couple, having resumed the post-lunch session unbeaten on 85.
Taskin then struck soon after, getting Mitchell Starc to edge one through to the keeper for 18 off 34 balls, ending a 43-run eighth-wicket partnership with Green.
Green continued to tick the scoreboard over with Lyon, adding 28 for the ninth wicket and helping Australia stretch their lead. But Hasan produced the breakthrough Bangladesh needed, bowling a back-of-a-length delivery that kept low and caught Green off guard.
The Australian all-rounder failed to get properly behind the ball, with the delivery taking the toe end of his bat before crashing into the stumps. Green walked back after a superb 201-ball 104.
His century had given Australia hope of setting Bangladesh a challenging target after the hosts were reduced to 243 for seven at Lunch, but Miraz and the rest of the Bangladesh attack refused to let the lower order get away.
Miraz had earlier made the initial breakthrough in the morning session, dismissing Carey for 30 after a delivery straightened and took the edge to Litton Das behind the stumps. The wicket ended a 56-run fifth-wicket stand between Carey and Green.
The off-spinner then bowled Webster for five before accounting for Cummins for eight. Cummins lunged forward to defend a wider delivery outside off, but the ball turned into the right-hander, took the inside edge, brushed the pads and flew into the hands of Shadman Islam at short leg.
The Tigers now have a golden opportunity to create history. A successful chase would give Bangladesh their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil and cap one of their most memorable performances in the format.
All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was on fire as Bangladesh tightened the screws on Australia on Day 4 of the first Test, claiming three wickets in the first session to leave the hosts scrambling and the visitors closing in on what would be a historic first-ever Test victory in Australia at Marrara Stadium in Darwin today.
At lunch, Australia reached 243 for seven in 84 overs, taking a slender 15-run lead. Cameron Green was unbeaten on 85 off 172 deliveries, with Mitchell Starc alongside him on 14 off 26, as the pair put together a 36-run eighth-wicket stand to help Australia erase the first-innings deficit.
When Australia resumed the day on 161 for four in their second innings, trailing by 67 runs, overnight batters Alex Carey and Green looked to build a partnership and help the hosts regain momentum. Carey was unbeaten on 19, while Green was 43 not out.
However, Miraz had other plans. The off-spinner appeared to be getting sharp turn from the outset after Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto introduced him for the day, and the variation in his deliveries made it increasingly difficult for the Australian batters to settle.
The move paid off soon. A delivery angled into middle and off from round the wicket straightened and took the edge near the top of the bat as left-handed batter Carey played forward. Litton Das took a sharp catch behind the stumps, sending Carey back after a 72-ball 30.
The wicket also broke a 56-run fifth-wicket stand between Carey and Green.
Miraz soon accounted for new batter Beau Webster with another ripper. A straighter delivery beat the outside edge of the right-hander and crashed into the stumps, dismissing Webster for five off 21 balls.
Miraz kept up the pressure, using his variations and sharp off-the-pitch turn to trouble the Australian batters. Even Australia skipper Pat Cummins could not hold out for long.
Cummins lunged forward to defend a wider delivery outside off, but the ball turned into the right-hander, took the inside edge, brushed the pads and flew straight into the hands of Shadman Islam at short leg.
The wicket ended a 14-run stand between Cummins (8 off 32) and Green and gave Miraz his fourth wicket of the innings and third of the day.
More importantly, it exposed Australia’s tail, leaving Green as the last recognised batter with Starc joining him at the crease. But the pair managed to frustrate Bangladesh for a while, with Green anchoring the innings and Starc providing valuable support.
Their eighth-wicket stand helped Australia wipe out the deficit and move into a narrow lead by lunch, but Bangladesh still remained firmly in control of the momentum.
With their tails up, the visitors opted for the new ball as soon as it became available after the 80th over. Bangladesh will now look to wrap up the Australian innings quickly and set themselves a manageable chase for what could be a memorable victory.
Australia, meanwhile, will hope Green can carry on for as long as possible, with Starc continuing to play the supporting role and stretch Bangladesh’s target as much as they can.
Inside the first hour of play on Day 4 of the first Test, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz gave Bangladesh the breakthroughs they needed, dismissing Australia’s Alex Carey and Beau Webster in quick succession at Marrara Stadium in Darwin today.
At the drinks break after the first hour of play, Australia reached 195 for six after 68 overs, still trailing by 33 runs. Overnight batter Cameron Green was unbeaten on 58, and skipper Pat Cummins was not out on one off eight deliveries.
When Australia resumed the day on 161 for four in their second innings, trailing by 67 runs, Carey was unbeaten on 19 while Green was 43 not out. The pair looked to build a partnership and help the hosts regain momentum.
However, Miraz had other plans. The off-spinner appeared to be getting sharp turn from the outset after Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto introduced him for the day.
The move paid off soon. A delivery angled into middle and off from round the wicket straightened and took the edge near the top of the bat as Carey played forward. Litton Das took a sharp catch behind the stumps, sending Carey back after a 72-ball 30.
The wicket also broke a 56-run fifth-wicket stand between Carey and Green.
Miraz soon accounted for the new batter Webster with another ripper. A straighter delivery beat the outside edge of the right-hander and crashed into the stumps, dismissing Webster for five off 21 balls.
Australia now find themselves in deep trouble, scrambling to find answers to Miraz’s off-spin masterclass on a pitch that has begun to offer increasing assistance to the spinners.
