Bangladesh bowlers make early impact
Bangladesh bowlers made significant progress on Day 3 of the first Test in Darwin, despite favourable batting conditions. They managed to break through Australia’s top order, positioning themselves advantageously heading into Day 4. At the close of play, Australia trailed by 67 runs with six wickets remaining.
The third innings commenced with Australia facing a deficit of 228 runs. Hasan Mahmud, a pacer for Bangladesh, continued his strong performance. Following his earlier figures of 6/55 in the first innings, Mahmud struck twice with the new ball. He dismissed Australia’s openers, Jake Weatherald for a duck and Travis Head for 17, providing Bangladesh an early boost.
Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 31, and Steve Smith, with 44 runs, temporarily stabilised the innings. They managed to slow the fall of wickets and contributed to getting the Australian innings underway. However, Bangladesh’s spinners, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, intervened, accounting for both batsmen and further denting Australia’s progress.
Australia’s resistance and Hazlewood’s milestone
Despite the pressure from Bangladesh, all-rounder Cameron Green and wicket-keeper Alex Carey showed resilience. They held their ground against probing lines and lengths from the Bangladesh bowlers on what was described as a good batting wicket. With six wickets still in hand, Australia will aim to overcome Bangladesh’s lead and then build a defensible total for the fourth innings, as the pitch is expected to deteriorate.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh’s lower order frustrated Australia by extending their lead. Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a spirited innings, scoring 65 runs, which was supported by contributions from the lower order. Australia struggled to take wickets during this period, despite their best efforts.
Among the Australian bowlers, Josh Hazlewood was a standout performer. He made an early breakthrough, dismissing Hasan Mahmud for 14. The right-arm pacer also claimed the remaining Bangladesh batters on the third day, including Miraz. Hazlewood concluded the innings with figures of 6/89, reaching a significant milestone by becoming the ninth Australian to take 300 Test wickets.
Hazlewood joins his teammates Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Pat Cummins in the 300-wicket club. Among Australians who have achieved this landmark, only Cummins, Glenn McGrath, and Dennis Lillee boast a better bowling average than Hazlewood’s 24.02. Reflecting on his achievement, Hazlewood mentioned to Kayo Sports that such milestones are often appreciated in hindsight, stating, “You don’t really think about those sort of milestones when you’re playing… I guess it’s probably something you look back on at the end.” He also expressed his satisfaction at being among such esteemed company, particularly playing alongside three of them.
Looking ahead to Day 4
The match holds significant importance as ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 points are at stake. Bangladesh, often referred to as the Tigers, will be looking to capitalise on their advantage early on Sunday to secure the remaining Australian wickets. The hosts finished Day 3 on 161/4, still 67 runs behind, with Cameron Green and Alex Carey facing a substantial challenge to keep Australia in the contest.
Australia, the top-ranked Test nation, found themselves in a difficult position after Bangladesh’s batters posted a total of 426. A potential victory scenario for Bangladesh, which seemed unlikely days prior, became a real possibility after tea on Day 3. This was particularly evident when Steve Smith was dismissed for 44, caught and bowled by all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The departure of Smith left Australia at 122 for four, prompting celebrations from the Bangladesh players on the Marrara Oval pitch. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “The way we showed character and played the last two, three days I think is outstanding. So, really happy to see them play like this.” At stumps, Green was unbeaten on 43, with Carey on 15. The Australian duo will likely need a significant partnership to prevent defeat on Day 4.
Source: icc-cricket.com
