On Thursday, August 13, Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, made an exceptional start to their two-match Test series against Australia in Darwin as they bundled the hosts for 198 runs in the first innings.
Interestingly, after winning the toss, Pat Cummins decided to bat first as Bangladesh pacers Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Ebadot Hossain steamrolled Aussie batters, with Mahmud emerging as the wrecker-in-chief with figures of 6/55.
Mahmud had packed the Aussie openers Jake Weatherald and Travis Head in 14 overs. Australia were reduced to 74/4 at the stroke of lunch, with Cameron Green falling on the last delivery.
Smith, who played a lone-warrior knock, eventually fell to Mahmud on 71, with the Bangladesh pacer securing his third Test five-fer and first outside Asia. Interestingly, Mahmud’s three five-wicket hauls have all come away from home. Eventually, Australia got bundled out for 198 runs in 53 overs.
Australia’s 198 was also their lowest-ever Test score against Bangladesh. They were previously all out for 217 in Chattogram in 2017 during their only Test defeat vs Bangladesh. It is also their second-lowest first-innings score in a WTC match at home, only behind their 152 all out against England in the 2025 Boxing Day Test.
While Australia occupies the pole position in the WTC 2025-27 standings, Bangladesh are ranked fourth.
Best bowling figures by Bangladesh pacers in Tests
6/27 – Shahadat Hossain vs SA, Mirpur, 2008
6/46 – Ebadot Hossain vs NZ, Mount Maunganui, 2022
6/55 – Hasan Mahmud vs AUS, Darwin, 2026
Five-fers for Bangladesh vs Australia in Tests
6/55 – Hasan Mahmud, Darwin, 2026
5/62 – Mohammad Rafique, Fatullah, 2006
5/68 – Shakib Al Hasan, Mirpur, 2017
5/85 – Shakib Al Hasan, Mirpur, 2017
Most five-fers by BAN pacers in Tests
4 – Shahadat Hossain (38 matches)
3 – Hasan Mahmud (15 matches)
