Lyon powers Australia to series-leveling win

Nathan Lyon claimed the best figures of his career - a match haul of 13 for 154 - as Australia beat Bangladesh by seven wickets on the fourth evening of the second and final Test in Chittagong to level the series 1-1 on Thursday.

However, the 1-1 draw meant Australia slipped to fifth on the International Cricket Council Test team rankings, behind New Zealand, while Bangladesh was ninth.

Chasing 86 for victory after Nathan Lyon had returned 6 for 60 to bowl Bangladesh out for 157 in its second innings, Australia lost its top three batsmen before Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell took the side across the line.

Lyon's 13 for 154 is the best bowling figures by an Australian bowler in Asia, surpassing Steve O'Keefe's 12 for 70 against India in Pune in February. He was declared Player of the Match for his effort, and also finished the two-match series with 22 wickets.

Mustafizur Rahman had an off-balance David Warner hooking a bouncer to Soumya Sarkar at deep square-leg to have Australia at 13 for 1. Matt Renshaw and Steven Smith then partnered for 31 runs to put Australia on the road to victory before both fell in the space of four runs to the Bangladeshi spinners. Taijul Islam had Smith nicking to Mushfiqur Rahim on the cut, while Renshaw missed the line with his poke and edged Shakib Al Hasan to Rahim.

That made it 48 for 3, but there were no jitters for Australia after that as Handscomb (16 not out) and Maxwell (25 not out) kept things calm, Maxwell bringing up the winning runs with a four through the covers and a six over midwicket off Nasir Hossain.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s second innings got over soon after tea when Lyon sent Taijul back and Steve O’Keefe (2 for 49) accounted for Mustafizur. Mehedi Hasan remained unbeaten on 14 after a dour 79-minute effort to keep the innings from sinking even sooner.

Lyon and O’Keefe were ably supported by Pat Cummins, whose double strike to send back Sarkar and Rahim went a long way in spoiling the Bangladesh plans.

Lyon struck soon after lunch to get Sabbir Rahman stumped for 24, ending a stubborn 54-run sixth-wicket stand with Rahim. Rahim, who made a 103-ball 31, was then joined by Mominul Haque to revive the innings before his stay was cut short by Cummins. Mominul also made a defiant 61-ball 29 but became Lyon's fifth victim as Bangladesh slipped further.

In the morning, Bangladesh did not allow Australia to add to its overnight total of 377 after sending Lyon, the No. 11, packing to restrict the lead at 72.

It was Cummins, Australia's only paceman, who drew first blood after getting Sarkar for nine, caught at first slip by Renshaw after edging a full delivery.

Lyon soon took charge and ripped through the top order, having Tamim Iqbal (12) stumped by Mathew Wade, Imrul Kayes (15) caught at cover by Maxwell and then taking the prized scalp of Shakib, who edged to Warner for two.

O'Keefe joined in with the wicket of Nasir, caught by Smith at slip for five as Bangladesh collapsed to 43 for 5.

Sabbir and Rahim revived the innings briefly before Lyon got going once again after the lunch interval.