Miraz spins Bangladesh close to history but Green holds firm

Mehidy Hasan Miraz put on an off-spin exhibition, claiming three wickets in the morning session, but Cameron Green and Aussie tail-enders did enough to avoid an innings defeat and earn a slender 15-run lead with three wickets in hand at Lunch on Day four of the first Test at the Marrara Stadium in Darwin on Sunday.

Miraz used drift, spin and guile to claim the wickets of overnight batter Alex Carey (30), Beau Webster (five) and skipper Pat Cummins (eight) but Green’s unbeaten 85 allowed the hosts to wipe out the deficit and go into the break on 243-7.

Mitchell Starc is keeping Green company at the other end, unbeaten on 14, while Miraz, who had also dismissed Steve Smith on the day before, is one wicket away from a five-wicket haul.

The hosts resumed the day’s play on 161-4, trailing by 67 runs.

Green, who was unbeaten on an overnight 43, held up one end as Miraz kept taking down the other.

First was Carey, who nicked a ball that pitched on middle and off-stump then straightened into the gloves of Litton Das.

Next was Webster, who lost his off-stump to a delivery that angled in and then straightened.

Miraz then induced just enough turn to take an inside off the bat of Cummins, which went straight into the hands of Shadman Islam at short leg.

Bangladesh were dreaming of a historic innings victory, with the hosts still trailing by 21 runs with just three wickets in hand.

Green and Starc then showed some resistance, formed an unbroken 36-run partnership to get Australia in the lead.

The hosts will hope to stretch the lead as much as possible to give their bowlers a chance, while Bangladesh would be hoping to wrap up the Aussie innings and keep the target to a minimum, and complete their maiden Test win over Australia in Australia.