An irrepressible Mitchell Starc bagged four wickets and 10 for the match as he ripped through the Bangladesh batting to ensure a commanding innings and 51-run second Test victory for Australia inside two days on Sunday.
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 10-51 for the match to level the two-game series. After 18 wickets fell on a frenetic first day, the hosts were all out for 210 in the morning session Sunday, securing a lead of 146 on the back of Cameron Green’s 67.
Star Bangladesh quick Shoriful Islam claimed 7-48 — the best figures from a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test. The visitors crashed for just 64 in their first innings, when Starc took 6-12, and he was the chief tormentor again, claiming 4-39 as Bangladesh crumbled to be 95 all out. Skipper Pat Cummins chipped in with 3-10 and Nathan Lyon 3-25.
“A lot of things went right these couple 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 nothing 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 46 deliveries, but he eventually lost focus against the off-spin of Nathan Lyon, holing out to the safe hands of Starc at long off on 31. 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 collected by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. The Australian captain then removed Hasan Mahmud (two) before Starc took his 10th for the match – the fourth time he has achieved the feat – when he bowled Taijul Islam for seven. 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 165-8 with Green on 51 and Lyon on 10. 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 200 for Australia with a towering six off Taskin and with Josh Hazlewood adding 24 crucial runs for the last wicket. The innings ended when Hazlewood skied Taijul to Shadman on six to leave Lyon not out 32.
BRIEF SCORES:
Australia 210 (Green 67, Smith 42, Shoriful 7-48) beat Bangladesh 64 (Starc 6-12, Cummins 3-25) and 95 (Shanto 31, Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25) by an innings and 51 runs.
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