Australia v Bangladesh: History made as home side wins first Test
Australia's hopes look dashed. Photo: Getty
Australia has lost to Bangladesh for the first time in Test history following a batting collapse which saw it lose 6-48 on day four of the first Test in Dhaka.
Chasing 265 for victory, Australia fell 21 runs short of the target as it was bowled out for 244, despite David Warner’s excellent 112.
The opener brought up his 19th century in the early stages of Thursday’s play but the excellent Shakib Al Hasan (5-85) dismissed him to trigger an Aussie collapse.
Only two other batsman – including captain Steve Smith (37) – passed 15, with Nathan Lyon (12) and Josh Hazelwood (0) the last men to depart. Pat Cummins finished unbeaten on 33.
Australia have chased down more than 200 to win on the sub-continent just once, when Ricky Ponting inspired a chase of 307 in Bangladesh back in 2006.
A repeat was not forthcoming this time following another display of Australia’s batting woes against spin.
The tourists resumed at 2-109, with Warner unbeaten on 75 and Smith on 25 not out.
Warner quickly showed his intent, thrashing Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-65 off 17) for four through mid-wicket in the very first over of the day.
He survived a scare, too, with Bangladesh convinced they had the left-hander caught behind when attempting a sweep on 98.
A review would prove otherwise and Warner went on to record his first century on the sub-continent with a punch through the covers in the next over.
Things looked to be going Australia’s way when Tamim Iqbal spilled a tough chance diving at mid-on, giving Smith a reprieve, and a boundary, and taking Australia’s score to 2-152.
But Warner was trapped lbw by the excellent Shakib in the next over to trigger an Aussie collapse.
Shakib – who finished with 10 wickets for the match – quickly added the wicket of Smith when he edged behind attempting a cut shot and the same stroke brought Peter Handscomb (15) undone shortly after.
First slip Soumya Sarkar caught Handscomb, at the second attempt, after initially showing excellent reflexes to stop a boundary before diving to catch the rebound and spark wild celebrations.
Bangladesh capitalised on their growing momentum, too, with Matthew Wade (four) and Ashton Agar (two) falling just before lunch to leave the tourists in a precarious position.
Then, from the very first ball of the second session, Maxwell was bowled by a ball that kept low, giving Shakib his fifth wicket and ending Australia’s hopes.
It is Bangladesh’s first Test victory over Australia, and a similar triumph in next week’s second and final Test in Chittagong would result in Australia tumbling to No.6 in the world Test rankings.