Advantage Bangladesh even as Australia resist in Darwin

Bangladesh's bowlers made in-roads despite good batting conditions in Darwin, getting through the Australian top-order and ensured that the game is poised in their favour going into Day 4 of the Test.

Australia trail by 67 runs at the end of Day 3 with six wickets in hand.

With important ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 points on the line, the Tigers will look to maximise their advantage early on Sunday and get through the Australian batting.

The third innings began with Australia trailing by 228 runs, and Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud was the star yet again.

Following up on his 6/55 in the first innings, Hasan struck twice with the new ball, bowling Australia's openers, Jake Weatherald (0) and Travis Head (17) to provide Bangladesh early boost.

Marnus Labuschagne (31) and Steve Smith (44) stalled the flow of wickets and applied themselves to perfection to get the Australian innings going.

However, Bangladesh's spinners Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz came into the act and accounted for the duo to further dent Australia.

All-rounder Cameron Green and wicket-keeper Alex Carey then held on even as Bangladesh bowled probing lines and lengths on a good batting wicket. 

With six wickets in hand, Australia will look to overhaul the Bangladesh lead and then work towards a defensible total to then bowl in the fourth innnings as the wicket eventually wears down.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh's lower-order added to the frustrations of Australia by extending their lead beyond 153 runs to over 200.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz's feisty 65 was supported by lower-order fight as Australia tried their best for wickets.

The only Australian who stood out with the ball amidst fielding mistakes was Josh Hazlewood who struck early to account for Hasan Mahmud (14). The right-arm pacer also accounted for the remainder of the Bangladesh batters on the third day, including Miraz. He finished with 6/89, and became just the ninth Australian to reach the 300 wicket mark. 

He joined team-mates Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins to the 300 wicket club. Of all the Australians who have achieved the landmark, only Cummins, Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee have a better bowling average than Hazlewood's 24.02.

"You don't really think about those sort of milestones when you're playing," Hazlewood spoke to Kayo Sports after his feat. "I guess it's probably something you look back on at the end. But I guess just to see the other names there, and I'm playing with three of them, so yeah, it's pretty cool."