Bangladesh solidified their dominance on the second day of the Darwin Test, finishing at 351 for 6 to establish a 153-run lead over Australia. The day was defined by Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s maiden Test century and a steady 84 from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, leaving the hosts struggling to regain a foothold in the match.
Resuming at 96 for 1, Bangladesh adopted a cautious approach. Mominul Haque and Tanzid navigated the Australian seamers with discipline, as the hosts failed to extract significant movement from the slow surface. Tanzid reached his maiden Test fifty in just his second appearance, and the duo extended their partnership past 100 before Josh Hazlewood broke the stand by dismissing Mominul for 49.
Tanzid continued his ascent, eventually reaching his century in the 64th over with a drive off Nathan Lyon. His 197-ball knock, which included eight fours and a six, made him the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test hundred on Australian soil. Shortly after reaching the milestone, he fell to Lyon, caught by Mitchell Starc at long-off for 101. By that stage, he had anchored a 93-run third-wicket partnership with Shanto that put the tourists firmly in front.
Shanto maintained the momentum alongside Mushfiqur Rahim, adding 66 runs to push the total toward 300 and extend the lead beyond 100. This effort marked the fourth time Bangladesh has recorded three 50-plus partnerships in a Test innings against Australia, and the first since 2006. However, the introduction of the second new ball provided Australia a brief window of success. Hazlewood claimed Shanto for 84, while Starc dismissed Litton Das for a duck and Pat Cummins removed Mushfiqur for 36, with Steven Smith taking three consecutive catches in the slip cordon.
Despite losing three wickets for 11 runs, Bangladesh remained stable as Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud saw the team through to Stumps. Mehidy finished unbeaten on 32, with Hasan on 13. Australia nearly claimed a late breakthrough on the final delivery of the day, but Cameron Green was unable to hold onto a sharp chance at gully following a cut shot from Mehidy.
Brief Scores: Australia 198 trail Bangladesh 351/6 (Tanzid Hasan Tamim 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto 84, Mominul Haque 49; Josh Hazlewood 2-68, Mitchell Starc 2-68) by 153 runs.
Bangladesh turned a strong start into a commanding position on the second day of the Darwin Test, reaching 351 for 6 at Stumps to take a 153-run lead over Australia.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s maiden Test century and a composed 84 from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto formed the backbone of a day in which Australia spent long periods searching for a way back into the contest.
Resuming on an overnight score of 96 for 1, Bangladesh began the day in a watchful mood.
Mominul Haque and Tanzid negotiated Australia’s seamers without taking many risks, with the hosts repeatedly hitting the hard-length area without finding enough response from a slow surface.
The left-hander chased a delivery outside off and edged it to Alex Carey, falling one short of a half-century after a 95-ball stay.
By then, however, the partnership had already done much of the damage.
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