Australia wins by an innings in Mackay in two days

By Simon Smale

By Henry Hanson

Topic: Cricket

Mitchell Starc took ten wickets in the match, his fourth time doing so in Tests. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)

Australia beat Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in just two days at Harrup Park, Mackay.

Starc was the star bowler again, getting figures of 4‑39 and a match total of 10‑51, his fourth 10‑wicket haul in Tests.

The win makes the series level at 1‑1 after Bangladesh’s historic win in Darwin last week.

With 18 wickets falling on day one, the new Test at Mackay could have ended quickly.

It did, as Shoriful Islam bowled a sharp inswinging yorker that got Cameron Green out for 67.

Australia were 8‑165 when Green and Nathan Lyon added 21 runs before Shoriful’s great ball gave him his seventh wicket.

Lyon added 22 runs, finishing unbeaten on 32 after Hazlewood bowled Taijul Islam to Shadman Islam at mid‑wicket.

Australia’s total was 210, giving them a 146‑run lead after the innings change.

Bangladesh’s reply looked weak after just an hour of batting, with little chance of Australia batting again.

Starc continued his spell in the second innings. (Getty Images: Albert Perez/Cricket Australia)

He took two wickets in two balls in his second over, dismissing Shadman Islam (1) and Mominul Haque (0).

Tanzid Hasan (9) was out before lunch, caught by Cummins off Starc at fine leg, leaving Bangladesh 3‑39 at lunch.

After the break Bangladesh could not repeat their Darwin fight; captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lost his wicket to a ball from Lyon that Starc caught at long‑off for 31.

Litton Das made his third duck of the series, edging Starc to Webster at slip, then Pat Cummins got Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1) and Hasan Mahmud (2) out in consecutive overs.

Starc claimed his 10th wicket of the match just before tea, bowling Taijul Islam for 7.

After tea Australia quickly took the last two wickets; Lyon got two in four balls, sealing the win and keeping Bangladesh under 100 in both innings for the first time.

The final wicket was caught by Starc, who earned player of the match and series awards, continuing his best form at 36.

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By Henry Hanson

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By Simon Smale

Is the next goal in test cricket to finish a match in one day? Two‑day tests are not unusual anymore...

- Mike

It’s the 28th two‑day Test in men’s cricket history.

The three most recent have all taken place in Australia in the last 12 months.

In fact, in the last 20 Tests played here, it has happened four times.

Australia beat South Africa on a green Gabba pitch in 2022, and two‑day Tests also occurred in last summer’s Ashes, one in Perth and one at the MCG.

The only Australia‑hosted Test to finish inside two days before this Brisbane game was in Melbourne against West Indies in February 1931.

Eleven of the two‑day Tests happened before World War I (1882‑1912), three more around World II (1931‑1946).

There were none between 1946 and 1999.

Since 2000, there have been 13 such matches.

By Simon Smale

Pat Cummins is speaking now.

“I thought everyone was really sharp,” he says.

“It was a great start and we didn’t let up after that.”

Cummins also praised the only batter who really stood out this series, Cameron Green.

“He was in total control of his batting in this series,” Cummins says.

“We know how good he is. Lots of cricket coming up, hopefully he keeps going.”

He says playing away from the usual Test venues feels “slightly different.”

He adds the whole team has enjoyed being in the north.

By Simon Smale

Najmul Hossain Shanto is speaking now.

“We all know how good they are,” Shanto says.

“They showed character and, as Bangladesh, we didn’t play our best.”

He says extra bounce was a problem and extra swing was “a challenge” for Bangladesh.

He says the series has been “a very proud moment” for the team.

He hopes they won’t have to wait 23 years for another Test in Australia.

“If we get to play here regularly it will help us improve.”

By Simon Smale

No surprises there.

He took 12 wickets at 12.08 in the series, including 10 in this spin‑friendly pitch.

“A much better week,” Starc said of this Test.

“We expected this from ourselves, we got this match.”

Starc said the wicket was “nice”, similar to the Gabba.

By Simon Smale

Mitch Starc and Shoriful Islam are talking in the outfield.

You love to see that.

The two left‑arm bowlers have ripped the batting line‑ups apart in this match.

By Simon Smale

Josh Hazlewood is speaking to Fox Sports.

He’s quite critical of the batting standard...

“I don’t think it should have been a two‑day game,” Hazlewood says.

“There was a bit of seam movement on day one in the morning.

You’d expect that in most Tests.

“But once the shine went off the ball it didn’t help the bowlers much.

“I thought it played better than a two‑day pitch.”

Key Event

By Simon Smale

Bangladesh all out for 95.

A dominant win for Australia, built on great bowling.

Key Event

By Simon Smale

Shoriful swings the ball, gets a thick edge, and sends it to Starc at point, who catches it above his head for his third catch of the innings.

Bangladesh all out for 95.

It’s the first time they have failed to reach 100 in either innings of a Test.

By Simon Smale

Shoriful defends the first ball.

He was top‑scorer in the last innings.

Key Event

By Simon Smale

Steve Smith takes a catch on the first ball after tea!

Great bowling from Nathan Lyon, a little drift into the stumps, Taskin hits it, the ball catches the edge, passes Carey’s thigh and Smith makes a very good catch.

He would have seen that late, diving to his right.

He returns to the top of the non‑wicket‑keeping catchers in Tests with 219, alongside Joe Root.

Australia one away.

By Simon Smale

Well, it looks like this match will be the latest Test to end inside two days – the third such finish in the last 12 months.

By Simon Smale

Best bowlers in the world but batters?? CA must fix this to be the best team again.

- Mark

Not for the first time in this team’s recent history, the bowlers have gotten the batters out of trouble.

Key Event

By Henry Hanson

They’re almost there, the Australians.

We go to tea with the hosts needing two more wickets for an innings win inside two days.

Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins were sensational, Cummins had 3‑10 at tea from 10 overs and Starc 4‑39.

Brilliant from the Aussies.

We’ll be back in 20 minutes for what will likely be a sharp final session in Mackay.

By Henry Hanson

Or of the match, if Starc can take a couple more wickets.

Starc is running in from around the wicket to Mushfiqur, who is defending towards point.

Another solid defensive stroke from Mushfiqur.

Nasty! A fast ball from Starc catches Mushfiqur on the glove, then the ball flies through the field to the fence.

Mushfiqur is again strong defending on the off‑side.

Full and searching from Starc and another solid defensive stroke from the veteran.

Mushfiqur is shoulder‑arming to end the session.

By Henry Hanson

Plenty of singles for Mushfiqur, and he works one to long‑on.

Two slips and a short leg are set as Taskin returns to hit.

Flat hit from Taskin.

Big shot! Taskin clears the front leg and goes BANG! A huge six over the long‑on boundary.

Ooft, and a one‑handed catch on the hill, if you don’t mind!

And he defends the last ball of the over.

By Henry Hanson

And Starc has five balls left in his ninth over.

Full and straight from Starc, into Taskin’s pads.

Runs! Good shot from Taskin, who stands tall and runs two runs.

Starc comes around the wicket to the left‑hander and bowls a yorker, which Taskin defends well.

He is under a short ball then moves out of the way of the final delivery of the over.

Key Event

By Henry Hanson

He’s back in attack, and Mitchell Starc quickly claims his tenth wicket of the match.

It’s full and straight, bowling Taijul Islam, who is out for 7.

10‑45 for Starc now – his second‑best figures ever.

Bangladesh eight down.

The end is near in Mackay.

By Henry Hanson

Mushfiqur hasn’t faced much Lyon recently, but he starts Lyon’s 10th over on strike.

He defends the first ball and then works a single through point.

Runs! Taijul hits a wide, it sneaks through the infield, Green chases and dives at the boundary, the batters run three.

And Mushfiqur pushes a single past the bowler.

Taijul takes a single from the last ball of the over.

By Henry Hanson

It’s Mushfiqur on strike.

He gets a ball that tails in, and he defends it well.

He then shoulder‑arms outside off.

Mushfiqur pushes into the covers and takes a single.

Taijul has three balls to survive.

The tail‑ender stands tall, hits the ball outside off, pushes into cover‑point for no run.

Flick! An unconvincing flick from Taijul falls short of the deep fielder, the batters run two.

And he stays out on the final ball of the over.

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