Sports Reporter:
A dominating performance by Bangladesh cricket team brought a historic nine-wicket victory over Australia in the first cricket Test at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin, Australia on Sun-day.
The victory looked imminent after a stellar performance in the first innings of touring Bangla-desh.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed 5-66 as Australia were bowled out for 284 in its second innings on the Day 4, leaving Bangladesh a target of just 57 for victory.
Despite losing Tanzid Hasan Tamim in the second over for duck, Bangladesh eased past the tar-get in 14.2 overs, bringing a watershed moment into the country’s cricket history.
Experienced batter Mominul Haque made the winning shot, cutting Beau Webster past back-ward point for a boundary as Bangladesh completed a victory Down Under where winning a Test is considered as the toughest assignment.
Mominul was unbeaten on 30 with opener Shadman Islam on 25.
Resuming the day at 161-4, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh, Australia were looking for a miracu-lous performance from someone else. And it looked to come through Cameron Green’s willow who was unfazed by every challenge posed by the Bangladesh spinners in a pitch, assisting spin-ners generously.
But he was unlucky to have any support from the other end as they were completely undone by Miraz.
Green was the ninth batter out after scoring 104 off 201, smashing four boundaries and one six for his third Test century.
Miraz dismissed overnight batter Alex Carey for 30, breaking 56-run partnership between him and Green.
Miraz then looked unplayable amid Green’s resistance as he dismissed Beau Webster and captain Pat Cummins in quick succession, leaving Australia at 207-7.
Bangladesh sensed an innings victory with mighty Australia still 21 runs short of avoiding an in-nings defeat.
However Green’s little partnerships with Mitchell Starc (18) and Nathan Lyon (15) helped Aus-tralia take a lead.
When Hasan Mahmud removed Green, Australia’s chance to make the lead bigger was dimin-ished completely.
Having taken Green’s wicket, Hasan ended with 3-56, finishing the match with 9-111, his career-best performance that eventually earned him the man of the match award.
Miraz, however, completed his five-wicket haul by taking out Lyon and by doing so wrapped up Australian innings.
Josh Hazlewood who took 6-89, removed Tanzid Hasan in the second over as Bangladesh started chasing a history.
Mominul and Shadman ensured that the early loss of Tanzid won’t impact them as they thwarted Australian attack to sail Bangladesh home for an emphatic victory.
Pacer Hasan Mahmud earlier claimed 6-55, becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to take a five-wicket haul on Australian soil as the visiting side bowled out Australia for just 198.
Tanzid Hasan became the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century in Australia to help the side post 426 and took a 228-run lead.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed with 84 while Miraz made 65.
The massive lead, however, proved to be decisive in winning the Test for the first time on Aus-tralian soil.
The second Test begins from August 22 in Mackay as Bangladesh will be looking for a rare clean sweep.
