Darwin, 13 August 2026:
Hasan Mahmud claimed six wickets and Bangladesh made a strong start with the bat on Thursday to take control of the opening day of the first Test against Australia, as Test cricket returned to Darwin after 23 years.
Hasan recorded figures of 6-55, including the key wicket of Steve Smith for 71, as Australia were bowled out for 198 after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat at Marrara Stadium.
Bangladesh then reached 96-1 in 24 overs at stumps, trailing by 102 runs. Tanzid Hasan was unbeaten on 32 and Mominul Haque was 35 not out after the pair added an unbroken 60 for the second wicket.
The match marks Darwin’s first Test since 2003, when Australia hosted Bangladesh at the same venue.
Hasan, who collected the third five-wicket haul of his Test career, struck twice before lunch to remove openers Jake Weatherald for 23 and Travis Head for 22.
Ebadot Hossain dismissed Marnus Labuschagne for one as Australia slumped to 61-3, before Taskin Ahmed removed Cameron Green for 13 to leave the hosts 74-4 at lunch.
Smith led Australia’s recovery, sharing a 55-run fifth-wicket partnership with Alex Carey. Smith reached his half-century from 76 balls and went on to make 71 from 109 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six.
But Bangladesh continued to strike regularly. Ebadot bowled Carey for 19 and Taskin removed Beau Webster for 12 before Hasan ran through the lower order. He dismissed Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Smith and Nathan Lyon to complete career-best figures of 6-55.
Taskin and Ebadot finished with two wickets each.
Australia made an early breakthrough in Bangladesh’s reply when Starc dismissed Shadman Islam for 20 with the score at 36. But Tanzid and Mominul denied Australia further success and reduced the deficit to 102 by stumps.
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh trail by 102 runs
Australia 198 in 53 overs (Steve Smith 71; Hasan Mahmud 6-55, Taskin Ahmed 2-55, Ebadot Hossain 2-39)
Bangladesh 96-1 in 24 overs (Mominul Haque 35 not out, Tanzid Hasan 32 not out; Mitchell Starc 1-28)
