Bangladesh ended the opening day of the Darwin Test with their heads held high after dominating Australia with both bat and ball. After bowling the hosts out for 198, Bangladesh reached 96 for one at stumps, leaving them 102 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bowl first, Bangladesh produced an impressive display with the ball. Right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud led the attack, claiming a career-best six wickets as Australia were dismissed for 198 in 53 overs in the first innings of the opening Test of the two-match series.

Hasan finished with figures of 6-55 from 17 overs, recording the best bowling figures of his Test career. It was also his third five-wicket haul in 15 Test appearances.

After wrapping up the Australian innings, Bangladesh had 24 overs to bat in the final session and made good use of the opportunity, reaching 96 for one. Opener Shadman Islam was the only wicket to fall, departing for 20. Tanzid Hasan Tamim remained unbeaten on 32, while Mominul Haque was not out on 35 at the close.

Australia made a promising start after coming to the crease, reaching 45 before losing their fourth wicket at 74. Hasan Mahmud removed both Australian openers, dismissing Travis Head for 22 and Jake Weatherald for 23.

Ebadot Hossain then removed Marnus Labuschagne for just one, while Taskin Ahmed accounted for Cameron Green, who scored 13.

Steven Smith and Alex Carey then added 55 runs for the fifth wicket to take Australia past the 100-run mark. Ebadot broke the partnership by dismissing Carey for 19.

Taskin struck again to remove No. 7 batter Beau Webster for 12, leaving Australia six down for 152.

Hasan then took charge and claimed the final four Australian wickets in a superb spell. He dismissed the well-set Smith for 71 before removing captain Pat Cummins for nine, Mitchell Starc for one and Nathan Lyon for seven to wrap up the innings at 198.

Hasan’s six wickets came at a cost of 55 runs from 17 overs, marking a career-best performance with the ball. It was his third instance of taking five or more wickets in an innings in Test cricket.

The other two Bangladesh pacers, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, finished with two wickets each.

With 96 for one on the board at stumps, Bangladesh will begin the second day just 102 runs behind Australia and with a strong opportunity to take control of the Test.