Bangladesh closes in on historic win as Australia's batting woes return on Day 3 of 1st test

Audio By Carbonatix

DARWIN, Australia (AP) — Bangladesh moved to within sight of one of the biggest wins in its test cricket history after Australia stumbled to 161-4 and remained 67 runs behind at stumps on Day 3 of the first test on Saturday.

Cameron Green (43 not out) and Alex Carey (19 not out) dug in to keep Australia afloat, but the hosts face a huge task to first erase the deficit and then build a competitive total to defend in the final innings. Bangladesh needs six wickets to secure its first test victory in Australia and arguably the biggest win in its history in the format.

Resuming at 351-6, Mehidy Hasan Miraz calmly shepherded Bangladesh’s tail to another 75 runs, taking the visitors to 426 and extending their first-innings lead beyond 200 before returning to make the crucial breakthrough with the ball, removing Steve Smith late in the day.

Mehidy shared partnerships of 46 with Hasan Mahmud, 18 with Taijul Islam and then a handy 46-run partnership with Taskin Ahmed before eventually falling for 65 from 154 balls.

Australia was at times its own enemy with another three dropped catches Saturday, including an inexplicable drop by Smith in the deep, making it five for the battered hosts across the match.

Josh Hazlewood claimed all four wickets to fall on Saturday and returned 6-89 off 28 overs for the innings. His fifth wicket of Mehidy was also his 300th test wicket, making him the fourth of Australia’s Big Four bowling attack to reach the milestone, and the ninth Australian to do so.

Hazlewood then removed Ebadot Hossein caught behind for 7 to end the innings at 426 to mark a strong return after 12 months out of the test team through injuries.

“From my point of view I think I bowled four out of six good balls a lot of the time and let things off in those other two," Hazlewood said.

“I am still standing. That’s good. It was a pretty tough slog straight-up. Obviously the more matches you play the better you get through those longer spells.”

Australia lost both openers cheaply before tea as Bangladesh strengthened its grip at Marrara Stadium.

Jake Weatherald (0) and Travis Head (17) both chopped on to paceman Hasan Mahmud attempting cut shots too close to their stumps as Australia slid to 37-2.

It took Mahmud’s (2-33) match wicket tally to eight after his return of 6-55 in the first innings limited the hosts to 198 and set the tone for the tourists' upper hand for the following two days.

Marnus Labuschagne, also in search of runs after a lean spell, looked busy at the crease until he missed a straight ball from spinner Taijul Islam (1-28) and was bowled for 31 from 59 balls.

Australia’s hopes of salvaging the match rested on Smith’s shoulders and the veteran looked composed as he characteristically accumulated his runs with low risk.

The match spun firmly toward Bangladesh though, when Mehidy (1-20) took a sharp caught and bowled chance from Smith (44) as Australia sunk to 122-4, still 106 in arrears.

“If we can bat deep into tomorrow and potentially the whole day there is always the opportunity to take 10 wickets on the final day," Hazlewood said.

“Winning is still in our mind and always is.”

The largest first-innings deficit Australia has come back from to win a home test was 206, when it trailed Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2010.

The two-test “Top End” series starts a heavy 12-month schedule for the Australians that will feature 20 test matches, including tours to South Africa, India and England.

___

See AP’s full cricket coverage here