Hasan shines, but CA XI take control

Bangladesh’s bowling attack offered little reassurance ahead of their two-Test series against Australia as Cricket Australia XI took control of the ongoing three-day warm-up game against the Tigers in Darwin today.

Having bowled Bangladesh out for 263 in the first innings, the hosts piled up 355 before being dismissed, taking a 92-run lead on Day 2 and leaving Bangladesh with another challenging task with the bat on the final day. That task became even tougher as the Tigers ended the day on 19 for two, still trailing by 73 runs.

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Hasan Mahmud was the only Bangladesh bowler to make a significant impact today, finishing with four wickets for 42 runs. The rest of the attack, including Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, struggled to consistently trouble the Australian batters.

Bangladesh had made a bright start with the ball on the opening day, with Taskin and Hasan removing Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway for just one run between them. But Kurtis Patterson and Josh Philippe then steadied the innings with a 51-run stand.

Hasan struck early on the second morning, rattling the stumps of Philippe to leave the hosts 3-52, but Patterson and Jack Clayton put together another 73-run partnership before Ebadot broke through by dismissing Clayton for 48.

Hasan then removed Patterson for 53 to put Bangladesh back in control, but that proved to be their last major success for some time.

Teague Wyllie changed the complexion of the innings, adding 167 with Jack Doran for the sixth wicket. The partnership took Cricket Australia XI past Bangladesh’s total and put the hosts in the driving seat.

Doran eventually fell for 76 to Mehedi Hasan Miraz, but by then the damage had been done. Wyllie continued to frustrate the Bangladesh attack and completed a 177-ball 130, featuring 16 fours, before becoming the last man dismissed.

Taskin and Khaled Ahmed joined Hasan in cleaning up the tail, but by then the hosts had secured a sizeable lead.

The bowling struggles will be another concern for Bangladesh, who are using the three-day game to fine-tune their preparations for only their second-ever Test series in Australia. The first Test begins in Darwin on August 13, with the second scheduled for Mackay from August 22.