Darwin, 14 August 2026:
Tanzid Hasan struck his maiden Test century in only his second match as Bangladesh seized control of the opening Test against Australia, reaching 351-6 at stumps on Friday for a commanding 153-run first-innings lead.2
Tanzid made 101 from 197 balls and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto added 84 as Bangladesh built steadily on its strong position at Marrara Stadium after dismissing Australia for 198 on the opening day.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was unbeaten on 32 and Hasan Mahmud, who took six wickets in Australia’s first innings, was 13 not out at the close. The pair frustrated Australia through the final session and added an unbroken 43 for the seventh wicket.
Australia had a chance to end the day on a high, but Cameron Green dropped Hasan off the final ball of the day, allowing Bangladesh’s overnight pair to survive.
Resuming on 96-1, Bangladesh lost Mominul Haque for 49 after he and Tanzid had extended their second-wicket partnership to 102. Josh Hazlewood made the breakthrough when Mominul edged behind with Bangladesh at 138-2.
Tanzid, 32 not out overnight, remained patient as Australia’s bowlers attempted to drag the visitors back into the contest. He reached his half-century from 102 balls and combined with Shanto to take Bangladesh past Australia’s first-innings total.
Shanto brought up his half-century from 74 balls, while Tanzid reached three figures from 188 deliveries, hitting eight fours and a six. The century came in just his second Test and helped Bangladesh establish a position of considerable strength.
Nathan Lyon eventually ended Tanzid’s innings for 101, with Mitchell Starc taking the catch, but Shanto continued the attack and shared another useful partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh went to tea at 286-3 before Australia fought back with the second new ball.
Hazlewood removed Shanto for 84, ending an innings that included seven fours and a six. Starc then dismissed Litton Das for a 12-ball duck and captain Pat Cummins accounted for Mushfiqur for 36 as Bangladesh slipped from 297-3 to 308-6.
The three quick wickets briefly gave Australia hope of limiting the deficit.
But Mehidy and Hasan shut the door on a further comeback. Hasan survived an Australian review for a catch in the 96th over and the pair batted through the remainder of the day as the Australian attack struggled to find another breakthrough.
Starc and Hazlewood finished the day with two wickets apiece, while Cummins and Lyon took one each. Hazlewood had figures of 2-68 from 20 overs and Starc 2-68 from 21.
Bangladesh’s dominance followed an impressive opening-day bowling performance led by Hasan, whose 6-55 helped dismiss Australia for 198. Steven Smith’s 71 was the only substantial contribution in Australia’s first innings, with none of his teammates reaching 25.
Bangladesh will resume the third day with four wickets remaining and already holding a sizeable advantage as it look to push Australia further out of the match.
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh lead by 153 runs.
Australia 198 in 53 overs (Steven Smith 71; Hasan Mahmud 6-55, Taskin Ahmed 2-55, Ebadot Hossain 2-39)
Bangladesh 351-6 in 110 overs (Tanzid Hasan 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto 84, Mominul Haque 49, Mushfiqur Rahim 36, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 32 not out; Mitchell Starc 2-68, Josh Hazlewood 2-68).
