Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64 runs by a devastating spell from Mitchell Starc, who took five wickets in 22 balls and finished with six wickets in the innings. But Shoriful Islam answered that fiery bowling with a standout response of his own.
Returning to the side after recovering from injury, Shoriful top-scored for Bangladesh with the bat before also tearing through Australia’s batting lineup with the ball, finishing the day with six wickets.
At the close of play on day one of the Mackay Test, Australia were 165 for 8. The hosts lead Bangladesh by 101 runs in the first innings.
Shoriful’s destructive bowling at one point reduced Australia to 148 for 8. In his ninth over, the 32nd of the innings, he removed Beau Webster and Pat Cummins within the space of three balls to complete his five-wicket haul. He struck again the following over, dismissing Mitchell Starc for his sixth wicket, tearing through Australia’s lower order with three wickets in just five balls.
Earlier, in the second session, the two sides lost a combined seven wickets. After bowling Bangladesh out for 64, Australia had reached 50 for 3 by the tea break. A double strike from Shoriful had reduced the hosts to three wickets down for just 41 runs. But a 77-run partnership between Steve Smith and Cameron Green put Bangladesh back under pressure, before Shoriful eventually broke that stand as well.
Earlier, Bangladesh had signaled a fightback with good bowling at the start of Australia’s innings. In the third over, Matt Renshaw edged Taskin Ahmed to Tanzid Hasan Tamim at slip. The opener, who was picked in the XI in place of Jake Weatherald, made just 8.
Shoriful then turned the match on its head, coming on to bowl in the eighth over. He bowled Travis Head off the inside edge with the second ball of his spell. The Australian opener departed for just 22. Four balls later, Shoriful bowled Marnus Labuschagne as well, who made just 4 off 9 balls. That left Australia three down for 41 and under pressure.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s first innings had folded for just 64 runs under Starc’s onslaught. Shoriful top-scored for the side with 14. He was then effective with the ball from the start as well.
Returning for his second spell in the final session, Shoriful broke the Smith-Green partnership, trapping Smith lbw. The umpire initially gave it out; Smith reviewed, but with the decision on umpire’s call, it stood. The Australian batter departed for 42 off 74 balls, leaving Australia four down for 118.
Alex Carey then added to the total alongside Cameron Green, but their partnership did not last long either. After adding 27 runs, Carey was out for 5, caught by Hasan Mahmud off Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Australia’s batting then collapsed rapidly, losing four wickets for just 3 runs. Beau Webster departed for a golden duck in Shoriful’s next over, unable to overturn an lbw decision on review. Two balls later, Shoriful had Pat Cummins caught by Litton as well, with the new batter managing just 1 run.
Finally, Shoriful capped a superb bowling performance by also claiming his sixth wicket, dismissing Mitchell Starc, who had taken six wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report