Bangladesh strengthened their position against top-ranked Australia as Tanzid Hasan scored his maiden Test century to help the visitors reach 351-6 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test in Darwin on Friday.
Tanzid, playing only his second Test, brought up his century from 188 deliveries with a single off veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. He was dismissed soon after, attempting another attacking shot against Lyon and being caught by Mitchell Starc at long-off. His patient innings provided Bangladesh with the foundation for a substantial first-innings lead.
The opener was involved in two crucial partnerships during the day. He added 102 runs with Mominul Haque for the second wicket before combining with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for a further 93 runs. Shanto also played a key role, scoring 84 from 126 deliveries before becoming one of three Bangladesh batters dismissed within a four-over spell after Australia took the second new ball.
Bangladesh had resumed the day at 96-1, still 102 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total of 198. By the close, the visitors had moved to 351-6, giving them a 153-run lead with four wickets still remaining. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, unbeaten on 32, and Hasan Mahmud, unbeaten on 13, added an unbroken 43-run partnership for the seventh wicket to further frustrate Australia.
The performance continued Bangladesh’s impressive showing with both bat and ball in their first Test on Australian soil since 2003. Australia’s much-anticipated pace attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, along with Lyon, struggled to contain the visitors in the warm conditions of northern Australia. The result leaves Bangladesh in a commanding position heading into Day 3.
The two-Test series forms part of Australia’s demanding 12-month schedule, which includes 20 Test matches and upcoming tours involving South Africa, India and England. For Bangladesh, however, the immediate focus will be on converting their strong first-innings position into a potentially match-winning advantage as they seek to put Australia under further pressure in Darwin.