Tanzid’s Historic Ton and Hasan’s Six-For Put Bangladesh in Command Against Australia in 1st test at Darwin

 

The opening two days of the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Darwin have produced a remarkable turnaround in expectations, with Bangladesh firmly in command after outplaying the hosts with both ball and bat. The Test, being played at Marrara Cricket Ground from August 13–17, is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. Australia, despite fielding an experienced attack featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, were dismissed for only 198 on the opening day. Bangladesh then built on that advantage superbly, reaching 351 for six by the close of the second day to establish a commanding 153-run first-innings lead. 

Day 1: Hasan Mahmud destroys Australia's top order

Australia won the toss and elected to bat, but the decision quickly backfired as Bangladesh's pace attack exploited the early conditions. Australia reached 45 without loss, but once Bangladesh began making breakthroughs, the Australian innings unravelled rapidly. At lunch, the hosts were already struggling at 74 for four, with Bangladesh's bowlers maintaining disciplined lines and extracting movement from the surface. 

The principal architect of Australia's collapse was Hasan Mahmud, who produced the finest bowling performance of his Test career. He finished with 6 for 55, becoming only the third Bangladesh pace bowler to claim six wickets in a Test innings and recording the third-best Test figures by a Bangladeshi fast bowler. His spell was particularly significant because it dismantled an Australian batting order containing several highly experienced players. 

Australia's only substantial resistance came from Steve Smith, who played an accomplished innings of 71 from 109 balls. Smith's contribution proved crucial in preventing an even more humiliating total, but wickets continued to fall around him and Australia were eventually bowled out for 198 in 53 overs. It was Australia's lowest Test total against Bangladesh, underlining the scale of the visitors' achievement. 

There was also a remarkable moment involving Smith and technology. He survived an appeal after the Real-Time Snickometer failed to detect an edge, but Smith subsequently admitted that he believed he had indeed nicked the ball. The episode became one of the unusual talking points of an extraordinary opening day. 

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Another important milestone came from Mitchell Starc. His dismissal of Shadman Islam gave him his 434th Test wicket, taking him past Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath and making Starc the most prolific left-arm wicket-taker in Test history. 

Bangladesh respond strongly

Bangladesh's reply began positively despite the early loss of Shadman Islam for 20, dismissed by Starc. Rather than allowing Australia's formidable pace attack back into the contest, Tanzid Hasan and Mominul Haque settled down and batted with increasing confidence.

At the close of the first day, Bangladesh had reached 96 for one in 24 overs, with Tanzid Hasan unbeaten on 32 from 67 balls and Mominul Haque unbeaten on 35 from 49 balls. Bangladesh therefore trailed by only 102 runs, having already taken a substantial psychological advantage into the dressing room. 

The significance of that position was considerable. Australia had been bowled out for 198, yet Bangladesh had lost only one wicket in its response. After one day, the visitors had not merely survived Australia's attack; they had demonstrated that they could bat patiently and confidently against the home side's world-class fast bowlers.

Day 2: Tanzid Hasan creates history

Bangladesh resumed on 96 for one, with Tanzid and Mominul continuing their partnership. Australia's bowlers were unable to reproduce the penetration they had shown during the first innings. The pitch appeared increasingly favourable for batting, while Bangladesh's top order showed excellent shot selection and patience.

Mominul eventually fell for a superb 49, but his dismissal merely brought captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to the crease. Shanto and Tanzid then produced the partnership that transformed Bangladesh's strong position into outright dominance. The pair added 93 runs for the third wicket, putting Australia's bowlers under sustained pressure. 

The defining moment of the second day came when Tanzid Hasan reached his maiden Test century. His innings of 101 from 197 balls was notable not merely for its quality but also for its historical significance: he became the first Bangladeshi batsman to score a Test century in Australia. It was an exceptionally composed innings from a player appearing in only his second Test. 

Tanzid's century was particularly impressive because he did not attempt to dominate the Australian attack recklessly. Instead, he absorbed pressure, left the ball intelligently and punished loose deliveries. His 101 became the foundation on which Bangladesh constructed a substantial first-innings advantage.

After Tanzid's dismissal for 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto continued to frustrate Australia. The Bangladesh captain made an excellent 84, providing the second major contribution of the innings. His partnership with Tanzid was instrumental in taking Bangladesh well beyond Australia's first-innings total. 

Bangladesh did experience a brief wobble later in the day. Australia took three wickets in a relatively short period after the second new ball, raising hopes of restricting the visitors to a manageable lead. However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud responded with admirable lower-order resistance.

Mehidy finished the day unbeaten on 32 from 73 balls, while Hasan Mahmud was unbeaten on 13 from 76 deliveries. Their unbroken 43-run seventh-wicket partnership ensured that Australia's late fightback did not change the overall direction of the match. 

Australia's bowling struggles

Australia used as many as eight bowlers during Bangladesh's second innings, an indication of how difficult it was for the hosts to break the partnerships. Nathan Lyon bowled the most, sending down 25 overs for 92 runs and taking one wicket, while the four premier bowlers—Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon—were unable to replicate Bangladesh's first-innings destruction. 

Australia's problems were not restricted to bowling. Their fielding also let them down at critical moments. Cameron Green dropped a chance late on the second day, giving Mehidy Hasan Miraz an opportunity to continue his important resistance. Such missed opportunities became increasingly costly as Bangladesh's lead grew. 

Statistical picture after two days

Statistic

Figure

Australia 1st innings

198 all out

Bangladesh after Day 2

351/6

Bangladesh's lead

153 runs

Australia overs faced

53 overs

Bangladesh overs faced

110 overs

Australia's highest scorer

Steve Smith – 71

Bangladesh's highest scorer

Tanzid Hasan – 101

Bangladesh's other major score

Najmul Hossain Shanto – 84

Mominul Haque

49

Mehidy Hasan Miraz*

32

Hasan Mahmud*

13

Hasan Mahmud's bowling

6/55

Tanzid's innings

101 off 197 balls

Bangladesh's 7th-wicket stand

43*

Starc's Test wickets after Day 1 milestone

434

The statistical contrast between the two innings tells the story of the match so far. Australia were dismissed for 198 in only 53 overs, whereas Bangladesh had already batted for 110 overs and reached 351 for six. The visitors therefore not only scored 153 more runs than Australia but also occupied the crease for 57 additional overs, demonstrating considerably greater control over the conditions. 

Bangladesh firmly in control

At the end of two days, the match has moved a long way from the pre-match expectation of Australia dominating on home soil. Bangladesh's performance has been remarkably complete: Hasan Mahmud's 6/55 destroyed Australia's first innings, the visitors' top order then absorbed Australia's premier pace attack, and Tanzid Hasan's historic century gave the innings the decisive impetus.

Bangladesh's 351/6 gives them a first-innings advantage of 153 runs, with four wickets still in hand. Mehidy Hasan Miraz remains unbeaten alongside Hasan Mahmud, meaning Bangladesh can potentially push the lead towards or beyond 200 on the third morning. Reuters described Australia's fielding lapses and inability to break the lower-order partnership as further evidence of Bangladesh's grip on the contest. 

For Australia, the challenge is now enormous. Their first-innings batting collapse exposed serious problems against disciplined pace bowling, while their inability to make significant inroads into Bangladesh's batting has compounded the situation. With the pitch reportedly becoming easier for batting, Australia will need a dramatically improved second innings if they are to avoid allowing Bangladesh to dictate the remainder of the Test. 

For Bangladesh, meanwhile, these two days represent one of the most impressive starts to a Test campaign in their history. Their first Test in Australia since 2003 has begun with them bowling out the hosts for their lowest total against Bangladesh and then establishing a three-figure lead. Tanzid Hasan's historic century and Hasan Mahmud's six-wicket haul have been the headline performances, but the greater achievement has been Bangladesh's collective discipline.

Position at the end of Day 2: Australia 198 all out; Bangladesh 351/6 — Bangladesh lead by 153 runs. With three days remaining, Bangladesh are now in a genuinely strong position to pursue what would be a landmark Test victory on Australian soil.