Bangladesh Holds Strong Position Against Australia in First Test
Bangladesh remained in a strong position during the third day of the first Test against Australia in Darwin, despite some late efforts from the home team. By the end of the day, Australia found themselves at 161 for 4, still trailing by 67 runs with six wickets left to play.
Starting the day, Bangladesh held a 153-run lead, which they managed to extend to 228 before losing their last wicket in their second innings. The tailenders of the team put up a brave fight, notably Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored a fighting 65 runs.
On the Australian side, the bowlers worked hard on a pitch that was favorable for batting, with Josh Hazlewood being the standout performer. Hazlewood took 6 wickets for 89 runs, making his mark by reaching his 300th Test wicket—a remarkable achievement that places him among the top bowlers in Australian cricket history.
Hazlewood joined an elite group as only the ninth Australian bowler to achieve this milestone, alongside his teammates Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Pat Cummins.
Australia’s batting response did not start smoothly, with Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud, who previously took six wickets in the first innings, striking twice with the new ball. He dismissed Jake Weatherald for zero and sent Travis Head back for just 17 runs, giving Bangladesh a boost.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith then settled the innings and absorbed early pressure. Labuschagne scored 31 runs while Smith contributed 44, establishing a solid partnership for the third wicket. However, Bangladesh’s spinners broke through as Taijul Islam removed Labuschagne, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed up by getting Smith out, putting Australia back under pressure.
With four wickets down, Cameron Green and Alex Carey came together at a crucial moment. They managed to survive a challenging final spell and ended the day with an unbeaten partnership of 39 runs, keeping Australia’s hopes alive.
Australia is still 67 runs behind and needs to make a strong effort on Day 4. The pitch is likely to assist bowlers more as the game progresses, making the day crucial for Australia’s chances.
Hazlewood claimed his six-wicket haul by dismissing Hasan Mahmud for 14 runs. His achievement of 300 Test wickets puts him in a unique class; among Australians, only Pat Cummins, Glenn McGrath, and Dennis Lillee have a better bowling average than his 24.02.
Reflecting on his milestone, Hazlewood shared, “You don’t really think about those sorts of milestones while playing. It’s probably something to look back on later. But it’s special to see my name among greats, and I’m playing with three of them.”
As Day 4 approaches, Bangladesh is in the driver’s seat, needing just six more wickets to secure a historic Test victory, while Australia aims to survive the initial session and build a lead.
