Bangladesh Aims for Historic Test Victory in Australia
Bangladesh is on the verge of making history in Darwin as they look set to secure a momentous Test win. Achieving victory could place them on the brink of a rare milestone—becoming only the third Asian team to win a Test match in Australia by an innings. In the past, only two teams have accomplished this feat: India and Pakistan, and the last time it happened was 45 years ago.
In 1978, India, led by Bishan Singh Bedi, defeated Australia by an innings and two runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Three years later, Pakistan, under the captaincy of Javed Miandad, achieved a similar victory against Australia by an innings and 82 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1981.
Now it’s Bangladesh’s turn to join this exclusive club. While Sri Lanka and Bangladesh remain the only Test-playing nations from Asia yet to win a match in Australia, Bangladesh has positioned itself strongly in Darwin. As of the third day of play, Australia was at 161 runs with four wickets down, still needing 67 more runs to catch up to Bangladesh’s score with six wickets left.
Asian Teams Winning by an Innings in Australia:
- India: Innings and 2 runs, Sydney, 1978
- Pakistan: Innings and 82 runs, Melbourne, 1981
Bangladesh’s Commanding Performance
From the start, Bangladesh has been in control of the game. Hasan Mahmud delivered a remarkable performance, taking six wickets and helping to dismiss Australia for just 198 runs. Bangladesh then responded with a strong batting display, accumulating 426 runs and securing a 228-run lead. Tanzid Hasan’s century was crucial, supplemented by a valuable 65-run contribution from Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
In their second innings, Australia found themselves once again under pressure. While Steve Smith scored 44 runs, Mehidy struck again to dismiss him. Taijul Islam also claimed the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne, who added 31 runs. Hasan Mahmud continued to dismantle the Australian batting lineup, taking two additional wickets.
Cameron Green and Alex Carey showed some resilience, finishing the day with scores of 43 and 19, respectively. However, the Australian team needs to surpass the 67-run deficit before they can think about putting any pressure on Bangladesh.
For Bangladesh, the key now is to stay calm and focused. Mehidy has pointed out that the pitch remains good for batting and getting each wicket will be a challenge. They cannot afford to let their guard down with such an important achievement within reach.
If Bangladesh can take the final six Australian wickets and chase down any target set, it will mark their first-ever Test win in Australia. However, if they achieve a victory by an innings, they would join the elite ranks of India and Pakistan in a remarkable achievement.
