Australia bounce back after losing the first Test, bowling out the visitors for ۶۴ and ۹۵ to win by an innings and ۵۱ runs.
Published On ۲۳ Aug ۲۰۲۶
An irrepressible Mitchell Starc bagged four wickets in the second innings and ۱۰ for the match as he ripped through Bangladesh’s batting lineup to ensure a commanding victory by an innings and ۵۱ runs in the second Test for Australia in just two days.
The statement win on Sunday ensured the hosts ended the two-match series in a draw.
The visitors headed into the Mackay showdown on a high after shocking the world’s top-ranked team by nine wickets in the first Test at Darwin.
But they were brought crashing back to earth by some scintillating fast bowling, led by man of the match Starc, who finished with ۱۰-۵۱ for the match to level the series.
After ۱۸ wickets fell on a frenetic first day of the five-day match, the hosts were all out for ۲۱۰ in the second day’s morning session, securing a lead of ۱۴۶ on the back of Cameron Green’s ۶۷.
Paceman Shoriful Islam claimed ۷-۴۸ — the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test.
The visitors collapsed for just ۶۴ in their first innings, when Starc took ۶-۱۲, and he was the chief tormentor again, claiming ۴-۳۹ as Bangladesh crumbled to be ۹۵ all out.
Skipper Pat Cummins chipped in with ۳-۱۰ and Nathan Lyon ۳-۲۵.
“A lot of things went right these couple [of] days and a lot of things went wrong last week,” said Cummins.
“But yeah, we needed to bounce back, and it was a great few days from the lads. I thought everyone was sharp. It was a great start, and we didn’t really let up after that.”
Bangladesh had a horror start, with Shadman Islam lasting just three balls, playing a meaningless stroke to a moving Starc delivery and edging to Marnus Labuschagne at point.
Mominul Haque was equally clueless next ball, failing to offer a shot, with Starc removing his off stump and setting up a hat-trick opportunity.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was out for a golden duck in the first innings, this time survived to deny Starc.
But their woes deepened when Tanzid Hasan departed soon after for nine. Starc was again involved, taking a catch in the deep after Tanzid pulled Cummins.
Shanto did well to soak up the pressure after lunch for ۴۶ deliveries, but he eventually lost focus against the off-spin of Lyon, holing out to the safe hands of Starc at long off on ۳۱.
And when Starc was brought back into the attack, he was front and centre again, enticing a loose shot from Litton Das, who was caught without scoring by Beau Webster at third slip.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz struggled to get going and departed to an equally poor shot, lashing at a Cummins bouncer and being collected by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The Australian captain then removed Hasan Mahmud (۲) before Starc took his ۱۰th for the match — the fourth time he has achieved the feat — when he bowled Taijul Islam for ۷ runs.
Lyon quickly wrapped up the tail in the first over after tea.
“We know how good Australia are. They showed their character,” said Shanto.
“We were not up to the mark with the bat. It was challenging conditions here with extra bounce and swing; we would like to learn from this.”
Australia resumed at ۱۶۵-۸, with Green on ۵۱ and Lyon on ۱۰.
Green, who scored a century during the first Test in Darwin, kept the scoreboard moving early with quick singles.
But he was undone by an inswinging yorker from the impressive Shoriful that hit him on the toe, with a review declaring him out lbw.
A valiant Lyon brought up the ۲۰۰ for Australia with a towering six off Taskin, and with Josh Hazlewood adding ۲۴ crucial runs for the last wicket.
The innings ended when Hazlewood skied Taijul to Shadman on six, leaving Lyon not out on ۳۲.
