Lyon, Warner give Australia sniff of victory

David Warner and Steven Smith survived Bangladesh’s trial by spin to keep Australia in the hunt in the opening Test in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Warner scored an unbeaten half-century and put an unbroken 81-run stand for the third wicket with Smith, taking Australia to 109 for 2 at stumps on the third day, still needing 156 for victory. Warner was not out on 75 at the close, a steadying knock studded with 11 fours and a six, while Smith was on 25.

Earlier, Nathan Lyon had claimed 6 for 82 to bowl Bangladesh out for a modest 221 in its second innings and give Australia a shot at victory.

Resuming its second innings on 45 for 1 in the morning, Bangladesh lost Taijul Islam, the night watchman, and Imrul Kayes cheaply, but Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim added 68 runs for the fourth wicket to stretch the overall lead.

Tamim led Bangladesh's batting charge with 78 off 155 balls, but his dismissal off Pat Cummins triggered a collapse. Lyon dismissed Shakib Al Hasan cheaply, but Rahim continued until an unfortunate run out for 41 at the non-striker’s end.

Lyon then removed Sabbir Rahman and Ashton Agar sent back Nasir Hossain as Bangladesh slipped further. Lyon mopped up the tail to finish with a six-wicket haul as Bangladesh was bowled out in 79.3 overs.

Australia's chase on a difficult pitch got off to poor start when Mehedi Hasan trapped Matt Renshaw lbw for five, and Usman Khawaja fell to Shakib in the next over.

Struggling at 28 for 2, Australia almost lost Smith, who had walked off convinced he had been stumped off Mehedi but he was called back after replays showed his feet had dragged slightly behind the crease even as Rahim, his opposite number, broke the stumps.

Smith got another reprieve when Kayes dropped him off Mehedi when he was on three. Warner also had his share of luck when Soumya Sarkar dropped him on 14 off Shakib. But the duo ensured there was no further damage from then on.