After chasing the game for two straight days, Australia enjoyed a better Day 3 in Darwin with both bat and ball but that wouldn’t stop Bangladesh from taking another significant step towards a historic Test win, leaving
Australia had to dig deep to stay alive after Bangladesh batted for 138 overs – the most by any visiting side in the last seven years – to take a commanding 228-run first-innings lead.
In fact, they began the day well when Josh Hazlewood trapped Hasan Mahmud LBW, ending the fast bowler’s 92-ball stay that spanned nearly three hours.
After chasing the game for two straight days, Australia enjoyed a better Day 3 in Darwin with both bat and ball but that wouldn’t stop Bangladesh from taking another significant step towards a historic Test win, leaving the hosts at 161 for 4 in their second innings at Stumps, still 67 runs behind.
Mahmud, who had taken six wickets in Australia’s first innings, had played an invaluable role with the bat too, adding 46 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz for the seventh wicket.
Taijul Islam then survived 23 balls before Hazlewood had him caught at gully.
Not before, though, Taijul had sent Hazlewood over square leg for six, drawing huge cheers.
Bangladesh kept ticking away and adding enough distance between them and Australia.
Their final four first-innings wickets added 118 runs from 52.3 overs, 75 of those coming on the third morning to push their lead beyond 200 for the first time in an overseas Test.
Mehidy’s vigil ended on 65 when Hazlewood induced a wild swing and a nick, giving the fast bowler his 300th Test wicket.
With a sizeable lead behind them, Bangladesh kept the pressure on Australia.
Head, interestingly, put the bail back in its groove before walking off.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne then put on 36, with Labuschagne appearing desperate to bat himself out of a rut that has now stretched to nearly three years without a Test hundred.
Smith and Cameron Green steadied things with an unfussy 49-run stand, but Smith was undone by a momentary lapse of concentration.
Bowling from well behind the crease, Mehidy got the experienced batter to bunt a full delivery straight back to him for a simple return catch.
Smith fell for 44 with more than 15 overs still remaining.
Green and Alex Carey then ensured there were no further setbacks, seeing Australia through to Stumps and keeping them just alive in a contest that has consistently slipped away from them.
