Tigers stay on top as Miraz fifty, tail resistance stretch lead to 219

Mehidy Hasan Miraz notched his 10th Test fifty as he and the tailenders continued to frustrate Australia, helping Bangladesh stretch their lead beyond 200 runs in the first session on the third day of the first Test at Marrara Stadium in Darwin today.

Bangladesh reached 417 for eight in 133 overs at lunch, adding 66 runs in 23 overs in the morning session for the loss of two wickets. Miraz, the last recognised batter for Bangladesh, remained unbeaten on 65 off 152 deliveries, while Taskin Ahmed was not out on 12 off 22.

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Australia had started the day with hopes of wrapping up Bangladesh’s innings quickly after Josh Hazlewood removed tailenders Hasan Mahmud and Taijul Islam in quick succession. However, Miraz and Taskin once again made the Australian bowlers work hard, with the lead now standing at 219.

Miraz, who resumed the day on 32, was initially content to absorb the pressure. But as the session progressed, the all-rounder began to pounce on anything loose.

He moved to 49 with a well-timed boundary through the covers after Pat Cummins bowled one wide of him, before taking a couple off Mitchell Starc to bring up his 10th Test fifty from 119 deliveries.

With Australia struggling to force the breakthrough, Taskin provided Miraz with precisely the sort of support Bangladesh needed. The pair put together 45 runs for the ninth wicket, repeatedly looking to take advantage of anything in their scoring areas.

Taskin then helped Bangladesh cross the 400 mark, getting enough on a short delivery from Cummins to send it away for a boundary.

The aggressive approach, however, also presented Australia with opportunities.

Immediately after reaching 400, Taskin went after another short delivery from Cummins and skied the ball towards deep backward square. Steve Smith appeared well placed to complete the catch, but the experienced fielder uncharacteristically fumbled to put it down.

It was a costly miss. Taskin was on 11 at the time, while Smith was denied the opportunity to move to 219 Test catches and become the outright record-holder ahead of England’s Joe Root, who has 218.

Australia were handed another chance soon after, this time with the prized wicket of Miraz within their grasp.

In the same Cummins over, Miraz attempted to attack another short delivery but only managed to sky it. Travis Head ran backwards in an attempt to get underneath the ball, but the chance proved beyond him. It was a considerably tougher opportunity, but Australia would have desperately wanted to hold on with lunch approaching.

Miraz, on 52 then, survived.

And the Bangladesh all-rounder made Australia pay for the reprieve in emphatic fashion. With the final ball of the session, he hammered Cameron Green for a massive six, underlining Bangladesh’s dominance and sending the Tigers into lunch in a commanding position.

From 351 for six at the start of the day, Bangladesh have now only further strengthened their position, despite losing Hasan and Taijul early.

More importantly, Miraz remains at the crease, while Australia’s inability to finish off the tail has allowed Bangladesh to keep stretching their advantage.

What had looked like a promising morning for Australia after Hazlewood’s early double strike has instead turned into another frustrating session, with Miraz and the tail once again ensuring that Bangladesh remain firmly on top.
 

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Photo: AFP

Hazlewood ends Hasan, Taijul resistance in quick succession

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood struck twice early on Day 3 of the first Test against Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, removing Hasan Mahmud and Taijul Islam in quick succession.

Bangladesh resumed the day at 351 for six, with Hasan unbeaten on 13 off 76 deliveries alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was on 32 off 73. Hasan, who had claimed a career-best six-wicket haul on the opening day, had shown tremendous composure with the bat as well to survive a difficult period on Friday.

But his resistance came to an end in Hazlewood’s opening spell. The right-arm quick trapped Hasan LBW with a full and straight delivery that struck him on the pads. Hasan reviewed the on-field decision, but ball-tracking showed the delivery would have gone on to hit the middle and leg stumps.

Hasan walked back after a commendable 163-minute stay, having faced 92 balls for 14. His dismissal ended a valuable 46-run seventh-wicket partnership with Miraz and gave Australia their first breakthrough of the day.

Hazlewood then struck again soon, getting rid of Taijul Islam to claim his fourth wicket of the innings and his 299th in Test cricket. The left-hander edged a wider delivery to gully, bringing an end to another brief but useful contribution.

Taijul had not looked entirely convincing but had managed to add some much-needed quick runs for Bangladesh. In fact, he had whipped Hazlewood’s shorter delivery over the boundary for six off the first ball of the over in which he was eventually dismissed.

Taijul departed for a 23-ball 17, which included a four and a six, leaving Miraz with the remaining tailenders as Bangladesh sought to stretch their lead as far as possible.

After 121 overs, Bangladesh had moved to 379 for eight, extending their lead to 181 runs, with Miraz unbeaten on 42 off 97 deliveries and Taskin Ahmed yet to open his account after facing three deliveries.

Hazlewood’s double strike helped Australia gain momentum early in the day, with Bangladesh now relying on Miraz and the lower order to add a few more crucial runs to their already commendable lead.

Hasan’s resistance comes to an end early on Day 3

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood trapped Hasan Mahmud in front, ending his gritty 92-ball 14-run knock and giving the visitors their first breakthrough on Day 3 of the first Test at the Marrara Stadium in Darwin today.

Bangladesh resumed the day at 351 for six, with Hasan unbeaten on 13 off 76 deliveries alongside the last recognised batter, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was on 32 off 73 deliveries.

After 117 overs, Bangladesh reached 366 for seven, extending their lead to 167 runs. Miraz remains unbeaten on 35 off 82 deliveries, while Taijul Islam is not out on 11 off 17 deliveries.

Hasan, who had rocked the Australian batting lineup on the opening day with a career-best six-wicket haul, had shown immense maturity, calmness and technique with the bat to survive crucial hours of play yesterday, especially after the visitors took three quick wickets to reduce the Tigers from 297 for three to 308 for six.

Hasan even negotiated Pat Cummins’ fiery first over this morning but could not survive for long, as he was trapped LBW by a Hazlewood delivery in the fourth over of the day. It was a full and straight delivery from the right-arm quick that thudded into Hasan’s pads. After the on-field umpire gave him out, Hasan reviewed the decision, but the replay showed that the ball would have gone on to hit the middle and leg stumps. He had to walk off after a commendable 163-minute stay at the crease.

The wicket ended a crucial 46-run stand for the seventh wicket between Hasan and Miraz, with the latter now left with the task of extending the Tigers’ lead as much as possible alongside the remaining tailenders.