Shoriful Islam’s six-wicket haul headlined Bangladesh’s fightback with the ball after the capitulation with the bat as Australia ended the opening day on 165-8, leading by 101 runs in the second Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Saturday.
Shoriful claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with 6-34, single-handedly keeping Bangladesh alive in the contest after they were bundled out for a mere 64 in the first innings after being asked to bat first.
Cameron Green is batting on 51, and the onus will be on him to extend their lead. Nathan Lyon, not out on 10, will resume alongside him on Day 2.
After resuming the final session on 50-3, Green and Steve Smith were gradually enhancing the lead and taking Bangladesh out of the contest when Shoriful struck.
Having struck twice in the same over before Tea, Shoriful struck Smith on the pads, trapped him LBW for 42, a decision the batter reviewed unsuccessfully.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz got Alex Carey caught for five in his only over of the day.
Shoriful then struck thrice in space of five deliveries, trapping Beau Webster LBW for a first-ball duck, surprised Pat Cummins with a short delivery to have him caught for a two-ball duck and hitting the top of Mitchell Starc’s off-stump for one in the next over to reduce Australia to 148-8.
Green and Lyon negotiated the remaining overs and extended the lead past 100 but thanks to Shoriful, Bangladesh have not bee completely outplayed in spite of the insipid batting performances
Before his exploits with the ball, Shoriful made 14 with the bat – the top score in Bangladesh’s disastrous showing with the bat.
Starc struck in the very first ball of the Test and completed a five-wicket haul off just 22 deliveries, finishing with figures of 6-12 to lead Australia’s response following the nine-wicket defeat in the Darwin Test.
Four off the top seven batters departed for ducks, only Miraz went into double figures, making 11.
Bangladesh were 39-9 at one point, at risk of hitting a new low in Tests as their lowest team total was 43 against West Indies in 2018.
But a 25-run partnership for the last week between Shoriful and Taijul Islam (11 not out), saved their blushes.