DARWIN — Bangladesh produced one of the greatest victories in their cricket history on Sunday, defeating Australia by nine wickets in the first Test in Darwin to record their first Test win on Australian soil and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Playing their first Test series in Australia in 23 years, Bangladesh outplayed the hosts across four days at Marrara Oval. They dismissed Australia for 198, responded with 426 to secure a commanding 228-run first-innings lead, then bowled Australia out for 284 before comfortably chasing 57 for the loss of one wicket.
The result was particularly remarkable given the strength of the Australian side, which included Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto described the victory as a landmark moment.
“This is the biggest win so far for Bangladesh in any format,” Shanto said after the match in Darwin. “Going forward, we want to do something special in the future.”
Miraz finishes the job
Australia began the fourth day on 161 for four, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh’s first-innings total, with Cameron Green and Alex Carey attempting to keep the hosts in the contest.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz quickly broke the partnership, dismissing Carey for 30 before removing Beau Webster and captain Cummins. He later trapped Nathan Lyon lbw to complete a five-wicket haul as Australia were bowled out for 284.
Green resisted strongly and completed his third Test century, making 104 before Hasan Mahmud had him play onto his stumps.
Miraz played a major all-round role in the victory, having earlier scored 65 in Bangladesh’s first innings.
“It was excellent, a great moment for us,” Miraz said after the win. “The way we are playing shows our character. Everything was perfect.”
“I think everyone is happy back home,” he added.
Bangladesh need only 57 for victory
Bangladesh required just 57 runs to complete the historic win.
There was an early setback when Josh Hazlewood bowled first-innings centurion Tanzid Hasan for a duck, but Australia could not build on the breakthrough.
Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque calmly completed the chase, taking Bangladesh to 57 for one in 14.2 overs.
Mominul struck the winning boundary, finishing unbeaten on 30, while Shadman remained not out on 25.
The victory was Bangladesh’s first Test win in Australia and only their second against Australia anywhere.
Their previous victory over Australia came in Dhaka in 2017, when Bangladesh won by 20 runs.
Hasan Mahmud set the tone
Bangladesh laid the foundation for the victory on the opening day when Hasan Mahmud produced a career-best 6 for 55.
Australia’s decision to bat first backfired as Bangladesh’s pace attack dismissed the hosts for 198 despite Steve Smith’s 71.
Hasan continued to trouble Australia in the second innings and finished the match with nine wickets, earning the Player of the Match award.
His performance was particularly significant because Bangladesh were without pacers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam.
Tanzid century puts Bangladesh in control
Bangladesh then turned their advantage into dominance with a strong first-innings batting performance.
Tanzid Hasan scored 101 from 197 balls, becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to make a Test century on Australian soil.
His innings came against an experienced Australian attack featuring Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon.
Miraz added 65 as Bangladesh reached 426.
Hazlewood was Australia’s most successful bowler, taking 6 for 89, but the hosts still conceded a 228-run first-innings deficit.
Cummins admits Australia were outplayed
Australia captain Pat Cummins acknowledged that Bangladesh had controlled the match.
“We had to find a way to bat longer and then we couldn’t penetrate with the ball,” Cummins said after the defeat.
“They outplayed us in all facets; they were patient and disciplined.”
For Australia, Green’s century and Hazlewood’s six-wicket haul were the standout individual performances in an otherwise disappointing Test.
A 23-year wait ends in triumph
The victory carries added significance because Bangladesh had not played a Test in Australia since 2003.
Australia won both matches of that series comfortably, and Bangladesh then waited 23 years for another opportunity to play Test cricket on Australian soil.
The Darwin victory now joins some of the defining moments in Bangladesh’s Test history, including their win over England in 2016, their first victory over Australia in 2017, the famous triumph over New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in 2022 and the 2-0 series win in Pakistan in 2024.
What makes the Darwin result especially significant is both the opposition and the location. Bangladesh defeated a full-strength Australian side in Australia and did so comprehensively.
Bangladesh now eye historic series win
The nine-wicket victory gives Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series and guarantees they cannot lose the series if they avoid defeat in the second match.
More importantly, Bangladesh now have the opportunity to secure their first Test series victory over Australia.
The second and final Test is scheduled to begin on August 22 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Queensland.
Bangladesh will go into that match with confidence after a victory built on contributions across the side: Hasan Mahmud’s pace, Tanzid Hasan’s century, Miraz’s all-round performance and a disciplined team effort over four days.
For a team that had been bowled out for 54 in a warm-up match shortly before the Test, the turnaround was extraordinary.
After waiting 23 years to return to Australia for Test cricket, Bangladesh made their first opportunity count in emphatic fashion.
Score: Australia 198 & 284; Bangladesh 426 & 57/1. Bangladesh won by nine wickets and lead the two-Test series 1-0.
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