Bangladesh Bowl Out Australia for 198 on Day 1 in Darwin Test

Bangladesh rout Australia in Darwin

Bangladesh stun World No.1 Australia in Darwin opener. Smith 71 lone hand as Bangladesh take 6-wicket haul to dominate.

Mahmud runs riot, Bangladesh skittle Australia for 198...

Bangladesh made the most of their first test in Australia in 23 years on Thursday. They bowled out the world’s No.1 side for under 200 and closed day one in control at 96-1 in the series opener in Darwin.

Hasan Mahmud led a brilliant day for Bangladesh’s seamers with 6-55 at Marrara Oval. His spell helped dismiss Pat Cummins’ Australia for 198 - their lowest total in 7 tests against the South Asian team.

 

Mahmud’s 6-55 was the third-best test figures for a Bangladesh fast bowler. It included the big scalp of Steve Smith for 71 just before tea.

Apart from Smith, Australia’s batting fell flat. Captain Pat Cummins had won the toss and elected to bat first on a slow, green-tinged pitch under the Darwin sun.

Under-fire opener Jake Weatherald made 23 in Darwin’s first ever test, but threw away his start. All-rounder Cameron Green’s quick 13 off 13 balls may also raise more questions about his spot in the side.

 

“Yeah, not our best. Still plenty of cricket to be played, obviously,” said Smith, who was put down twice in the slips on 2.

“It would have been nice to have taken a few more (wickets). So, hopefully we start well in the morning, pick up a few early ones and put pressure on.”

In contrast, Bangladesh’s top order showed grit and patience. They held firm against Australia’s frontline attack of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon as the pitch eased up in the afternoon session.

Starc Strikes But Bangladesh Hold Firm

Starc claimed the only wicket of the day, dismissing Shadman Islam for 20. But openers Tanzid Hasan finished unbeaten on 32 and Mominul Haque was 35 not out as they put together a 60-run stand to take Bangladesh safely to stumps.

That 60-run second-wicket partnership alone was already six more than Bangladesh managed in their entire second innings of 54 against a Cricket Australia XI in their weekend warm-up, where they were bowled out and lost.

Starc got Shadman out with a leading edge that Lyon snapped up at cover point. The wicket took him to 434 test wickets, making him the leading left-arm bowler ever and pushing him past Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath.

It was a rare bright spot for Australia. They were cruising at 45-0 in the first hour, but 26-year-old Mahmud then came in and knocked over both openers.

Weatherald had spent the winter overhauling his batting, but he still looked uncomfortable against tight pace bowling. He threw it away with a loose drive and edged to slips, much to the frustration of the home crowd in Darwin.

His opening partner Travis Head looked more assured until he played on for 22.

Marnus Labuschagne at number three scratched out 1 from 20 balls before edging Ebadot Hossain to the slips. Then Green, coming in at five, was caught at short midwicket off Taskin Ahmed and left Australia wobbling at 74-4.

Alex Carey made 19 and put on 55 with Smith after lunch to steady things for Australia. But he then chopped on as well to give Hossain his second wicket and spark another slide.

Mitchell Starc goes past Rangana Herath on International Left-Handers Day 🤛 pic.twitter.com/b2nmgf8wrU

— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) August 13, 2026

Taskin produced a beauty to bowl Beau Webster for 12. Hasan then came back to mop up the tail, having Smith caught close in after he got a top edge trying to hit out.

It was a huge effort from a Bangladesh seam attack hit hard by injuries. Nahid Rana is out for the series and left-armer Shoriful Islam won’t be back until the second and final test in Mackay.

Smith said the pitch was “tacky” with morning dew when Australia’s top order fell apart, and said he was hoping Bangladesh would face the same conditions early on day two.