Darwin, 16 August 2026:
Bangladesh completed one of the most memorable victories in their Test history on Sunday, defeating Australia by nine wickets inside four days at Marrara Stadium to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Set just 57 for victory after Australia were bowled out for 284 in their second innings, Bangladesh reached 57 for one in 14.2 overs, with Mominul Haque striking the winning boundary to seal a famous triumph on Australian soil.
The visitors began the fourth day firmly in control, with Australia resuming on 161 for four, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh’s imposing first-innings total of 426.
Cameron Green, unbeaten on 43 overnight, produced a determined century to keep Australia’s hopes alive. He shared a useful fifth-wicket partnership with Alex Carey and continued to resist as wickets fell around him.
Carey was the first Australian to depart on the fourth morning, falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 30 at 178 for five. Mehidy then removed Beau Webster for five and captain Pat Cummins for eight as Australia slipped to 207 for seven.
Green, however, refused to surrender. He brought up his half-century from 109 deliveries and alongside Mitchell Starc, pushed Australia into the lead.
The pair took the score to 243 for seven by lunch, with Green unbeaten on 85 and Starc on 14. Their resistance ensured Bangladesh would have to bat again, but the visitors remained firmly in command.
Starc was dismissed for 18 after lunch, caught behind off Taskin Ahmed, but Green continued his defiant innings and reached his third Test hundred from 192 deliveries, his first Test century on Australian soil.
His resistance finally ended at 278 when Hasan Mahmud bowled him for 104 from 201 balls, an innings containing four fours and a six. Nathan Lyon added 15 before Mehidy trapped him lbw to dismiss Australia for 284 in 95.1 overs.
Mehidy was the standout bowler in the second innings, claiming 5 for 66 from 33.1 overs. Hasan followed his first-innings six-wicket haul with 3 for 56, while Taskin and Taijul Islam took a wicket apiece.
Australia’s total left Bangladesh requiring only 57 to complete a historic victory.
There was one early moment of concern when first-innings centurion Tanzid Hasan was bowled by Josh Hazlewood for a duck with the score on four.
But any Australian hopes of an extraordinary comeback were quickly extinguished by Shadman Islam and Mominul.
The pair calmly negotiated an attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon before gradually accelerating towards the target. They added an unbeaten 53 for the second wicket, with Mominul finishing on 30 from 39 balls and Shadman unbeaten on 25 from 42.
Mominul provided the fitting final act, cutting Beau Webster for four to take Bangladesh to 57 for one and spark jubilant celebrations among the touring side.
The nine-wicket victory capped a remarkable turnaround for Bangladesh, who had been dismissed for just 54 by a Cricket Australia XI in their warm-up match before the series.
Instead of carrying those struggles into the Test, Bangladesh produced a commanding performance across all four days.
Hasan’s 6 for 55 helped bowl Australia out for 198 on the opening day before Tanzid’s maiden Test century, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 84 and Mehidy’s 65 powered Bangladesh to 426 and a commanding 228-run first-innings advantage.
Australia fought back through Green’s century in the second innings, but Bangladesh never surrendered control of the contest.
Hasan was named Player of the Match after finishing with match figures of 9 for 111, including six wickets in the first innings and three in the second.
The victory gives Bangladesh 12 ICC World Test Championship points and a 1-0 advantage heading into the second and final Test which will be played in Mackay from Saturday, 22 August. More significantly, having taken the opening Test of the two-match contest, Bangladesh have ensured they cannot lose the series.
For Australia, it was a Test to forget. For Bangladesh, Darwin will be remembered as the scene of one of the finest victories in their cricketing history.
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh beat Australia by nine wickets
Australia 198 (Steven Smith 71; Hasan Mahmud 6-55) and 284 (Cameron Green 104; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-66, Hasan Mahmud 3-56)
Bangladesh 426 (Tanzid Hasan 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto 84, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 65; Josh Hazlewood 6-89) and 57-1 (Mominul Haque 30*, Shadman Islam 25*)
Player of the match – Hasan Mahmud
