First Test, Darwin (day three of five)
Australia 198: (Smith 71; Mahmud 6-55) and 161-4 (Green 43*; Mahmud 2-33)
Bangladesh 426: (Tanzid 101, Shanto 84, Miraz 65; Hazlewood 6-89)
Australia trail by 67 runs with 6 wickets remaining
Spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the crucial wicket of Steve Smith as Bangladesh moved closer to a historic first Test victory in Australia on day three in Darwin.
Smith, so often Australia’s talisman, chipped a leading edge straight back to the off-spinner to depart for 44 and leave his side 122-4 in their second innings.
Australia safely batted out the rest of the session but they face a tough task to save the match after closing on 161-4, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh’s first innings total.
Their hopes of saving the first Test rest in the hands of Cameron Green, who remained unbeaten on 43 and Alex Carey, on 19.
Earlier Bangladesh added 75 to their overnight score of 351-6, with Miraz scoring 65 and Josh Hazlewood claiming 6-89 to claim his 300th Test wicket.
Miraz guided the tail superbly for his 65 from 154 balls as the Bangladesh lower order frustrated Australia’s tiring bowling attack.
“The way we showed character and played the last two, three days I think is outstanding. So, really happy to see them play like this,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said.
After being dismissed for 426 shortly after lunch, Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud stunned the hosts when he claimed both openers cheaply.
The 26-year-old, who took a career-best 6-55 in the first innings, bowled Jake Weatherald for 0 and Travis Head for 17 as both players chopped on to their stumps.
Marnus Labuschagne and Smith steadied the ship, before the former was bowled by Taijul Islam for 31.
Smith batted sensibly for his 44 off 88 balls but his wicket left Bangladesh confident of victory as they roared in triumph on the Marrara Oval pitch.
All-rounder Green’s place in the side had been questioned prior to the series, but he defended well alongside wicketkeeper Carey as the pair reached the end of the day to give the hosts a slither of hope going into day four.
Australia have never lost a home Test to Bangladesh, only losing once to the Tigers in six previous Tests – at Mirpur in 2017.
This is the first match in a two-Test series.