Mahmud’s historic spell, Bangladesh on top against Australia
The visitors got off to a spectacular start in the first of the two away Tests against the ICC World Test Championship leaders.
Bangladesh quick Hasan Mahmud joined an exclusive club when collecting a rare six-wicket haul for his country on the opening day of the first ICC World Test Championship contest against Australia in Darwin.
Mahmud produced a superb spell of fast bowling to finish with impressive figures of 6/55 from 17 overs as Bangladesh dismissed the World Test Championship pacesetters for just 198 on an action-packed day of Test cricket at Marrara Stadium.
It was the third-best bowling ever by a Bangladesh fast bowler in Test cricket, with Shahadat Hossain (6/27) and Ebadot Hossain (6/46) the only two players to better Mahmud's mark. Overall, it marked the first-ever five-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler in Australia.
It was also the lowest score Australia have ever been bowled out for by Bangladesh in Test history, beating the previous mark of 217 at Mirpur in 2017.
And it was just the second time that Bangladesh pacers have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings, with the only previous instance coming against Pakistan in the second innings at Rawalpindi in 2024. It was in this Test that Hasan Mahmud had claimed his first five-wicket haul in Tests.
Having won the toss and opting to bat first, Australia were unable to find rhythm early on in Darwin. Steve Smith (71 off 109 deliveries) held one end but didn’t find the support to forge a partnership in the first innings.
For Bangladesh, other than Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain snapped a brace each.
In their response with the bat, the visitors were able to notch 96 runs at the loss of a solitary wicket.
Mitchell Starc found a wicket in his opening spell, getting rid of Shadman Islam.
In doing so, Starc became the most prolific left-arm bowler in Test cricket history (434), overtaking former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath (433).
At Stumps, Tanzid Hasan (32*) and Mominul Haque (35*) were in the middle, having accumulated 60 runs for the second-wicket partnership.
Playing XI:
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud
Series schedule:
First Test: August 13-17, Darwin
Second Test: August 22-26, Mackay