By Dwayne Ferreira.
Australia beat Bangladesh inside two days as Mitchell Starc takes 10 wickets to seal an innings-and-51-run win in Mackay.
MACKAY — Mitchell Starc produced another devastating exhibition of fast bowling as Australia responded emphatically to their shock defeat in Darwin, crushing Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs inside two days to draw the two-Test series 1-1.
Starc finished the match with 10 wickets for 51 runs, including a spectacular 6 for 12 in Bangladesh’s first innings, as the visitors were dismissed for just 64 and 95 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena.
The result represented a dramatic reversal after Bangladesh had stunned Australia by nine wickets in Darwin.
In Mackay, however, Australia’s senior fast bowlers responded with authority.
Day One Produces 18 Wickets
Bangladesh’s problems began almost immediately after play started.
Starc struck with the first delivery of the match, removing Shadman Islam and setting the tone for one of the most destructive spells of the series.
At one stage Bangladesh slumped to 12 for five, with their top order overwhelmed by Starc’s pace, movement and accuracy.
He eventually returned extraordinary figures of 6 for 12, while Australian captain Pat Cummins claimed 3 for 25.
Bangladesh were bowled out for only 64.
Four Bangladesh batters failed to score as Australia’s attack exploited the pace and bounce available on the Mackay surface.
But the opening day then produced another remarkable twist.
Bangladesh fast bowler Shoriful Islam gave Australia an immediate taste of their own medicine.
Returning to the side after injury, the tall left-arm quick ripped through Australia’s batting order with a career-best display.
Australia suffered a dramatic collapse of their own and finished Day One on 165 for eight, meaning an extraordinary 18 wickets had fallen during the day.
Shoriful finished the opening day with six wickets, while Cameron Green stood between Bangladesh and an even stronger recovery.
Green was unbeaten on 51 overnight, ensuring Australia still held a valuable 101-run advantage despite their own batting problems.
Green Pushes Australia Beyond 200
Australia resumed on Day Two looking to transform their lead into something decisive.
Green once again proved crucial.
Following his century in the first Test at Darwin, the all-rounder extended his innings to 67, while Nathan Lyon made an important unbeaten 32.
Their ninth-wicket partnership added valuable runs before Australia were eventually dismissed for 210.
Shoriful completed outstanding figures of 7 for 48, the best Test bowling figures by a Bangladesh fast bowler, but Australia’s first-innings advantage had grown to a formidable 146 runs.
Bangladesh therefore needed a significantly improved second innings simply to force Australia to bat again.
Instead, Starc struck almost immediately.
He dismissed Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque with successive deliveries in his second over, before Cummins removed Tanzid Hasan as Bangladesh collapsed to 24 for three.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto attempted to counterattack and top-scored with 31, while Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 29.
Those two innings were the only meaningful resistance.
Starc Completes Ten-Wicket Match
Nathan Lyon dismissed Shanto before Australia’s fast bowlers again tore through the middle and lower order.
Starc claimed his fourth wicket of the innings to complete his fourth career ten-wicket Test match haul, while Cummins and Lyon collected three wickets apiece.
Bangladesh were dismissed for 95 shortly after tea.
Starc returned second-innings figures of 4 for 39, giving him match figures of 10 for 51. Cummins finished with 3 for 10 and Lyon 3 for 25.
The victory was completed by an innings and 51 runs, bringing an extraordinary Test to an end after only two days.
Starc’s performance also lifted him to 445 Test wickets, moving him further up the list of Test cricket’s most successful bowlers.
He was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
For Australia, the result restored some pride after the historic defeat in Darwin.
For Bangladesh, the two matches told dramatically different stories.
Their sensational victory in the opening Test demonstrated the progress they have made, but the Mackay defeat exposed how quickly conditions in Australia can overwhelm a batting lineup when the world’s best fast bowlers find their rhythm.
Captain Shanto nevertheless called for Bangladesh to receive more regular opportunities to play Test cricket in Australia rather than waiting decades between tours.
The series therefore finishes 1-1, with Bangladesh leaving Australia having achieved a historic Test victory while the hosts answered with one of their most emphatic wins.
Match Scores
Bangladesh – 64
(Mitchell Starc 6/12, Pat Cummins 3/25)
Australia – 210
(Cameron Green 67, Steve Smith 42, Nathan Lyon 32*, Shoriful Islam 7/48)
Bangladesh – 95
(Najmul Hossain Shanto 31, Mushfiqur Rahim 29, Mitchell Starc 4/39, Pat Cummins 3/10, Nathan Lyon 3/25)
Result – Australia won by an innings and 51 runs
Series drawn 1-1
Player of the Match: Mitchell Starc
Player of the Series: Mitchell Starc
