Bangladesh Gains Upper Hand on Day 3
On Saturday, Bangladesh solidified their position in the Test match against Australia, making significant breakthroughs in the top order on Day 3. Australia now finds themselves 67 runs behind with six wickets remaining, creating a tense atmosphere as both teams vie for crucial ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 points.
Bangladesh will look to capitalize on their momentum early on Sunday to conclude Australia’s innings.
Early Breakthroughs for Bangladesh
Starting their second innings 228 runs in the deficit, Australia faced immediate challenges as Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud struck early. After an impressive 6/55 in the first innings, he dismissed openers Jake Weatherald for a duck and Travis Head for just 17 runs, giving Bangladesh a promising start.
Australia’s Recovery Efforts
Marnus Labuschagne, contributing 31 runs, and Steve Smith, who scored 44, managed to stabilize the innings for Australia. However, Bangladesh’s spinners, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, disrupted their partnership by taking both wickets. Despite the pressure from Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling, Cameron Green and Alex Carey fought to keep Australia competitive.
Bangladesh’s Lower Order Shines
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh’s lower order played a crucial role in extending their lead beyond 200 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz led the charge with a resilient 65, supported by valuable contributions from the lower order.
Hazlewood Achieves Milestone
On a challenging day for the Australian bowlers, Josh Hazlewood stood out. He dismissed Hasan Mahmud for 14 and took the remaining Bangladesh wickets, finishing with impressive figures of 6/89. This performance marked Hazlewood’s entry into the 300-wicket club, making him the ninth Australian bowler to achieve this feat. He joins the ranks of teammates Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Pat Cummins, with only Pat Cummins, Glenn McGrath, and Dennis Lillee boasting a better bowling average than Hazlewood’s 24.02.