Miraz’s ton papers over top-order failure on Day 1 of Australia tour match

Bangladesh batters mostly faltered in their first test against the red ball in Australian soil with the exception of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, whose fighting century helped the visitors post 262 all out in the first innings of the three-day tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin on Thursday.

Miraz struck an unbeaten 109 off 141 balls, an innings laced with 11 fours and four sixes, to push the score past 250.

Earlier, Bangladesh had lost six wickets for just 110 runs after opting to bat first.

Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim departed for ducks while skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shadman Islam lost their wickets after getting set, making 37 and 31 respectively.

Mominul Haque and Amite Hasan spent a lot of time at the middle, facing 58 and 61 deliveries respectively for their 16 and 15 runs, before marching back to the dressing room.

While the others struggled to get going, Miraz opted for a more counter-attacking approach, and scored a statement hundred before the two-Test series begins.

The first Test will begin on August 13.