Shoriful Islam produced the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh pace bowler in Test cricket on Day 2 of the second Test against Australia in Mackay on Sunday. His 7 for 48 bowled Australia out for 210, and handed Bangladesh a first-innings lead of 146 runs after their own total of 64.
Starc Strikes Early As Australia Add 45 Runs Before Lunch
Australia resumed the morning on 165 for 8 and looked to extend their total past 200. Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon batted through the first hour and added 38 runs for the ninth wicket.
Green struck the ball cleanly and reached a fifty built on ten boundaries, but Shoriful ended his innings with an inswinging yorker that trapped him lbw for 67 off 105 balls. Taijul Islam then had Josh Hazlewood caught by Shadman Islam at slip, and Australia folded for 210 in 52.3 overs. Lyon stayed unbeaten on 32, and struck Taskin Ahmed for a four and a six in one over near the close of the innings.
The final total gave Bangladesh a healthy first-innings cushion, though it also meant Australia had crawled back from a top-order collapse earlier in their innings, when they slipped to 41 for 3 before Steve Smith and Green rebuilt with a stand of 77.
Shoriful’s Seven-Wicket Haul Sets New Bangladesh Record
Shoriful’s figures marked the first seven-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia in Test history. His 7 for 48 also stands as the best innings figures recorded by a Bangladesh pace bowler on foreign soil, and surpassed the mark Taijul Islam had set against Zimbabwe earlier this year.
The 24-year-old left-arm quick moved the ball throughout his 15-over spell and troubled the Australian middle order after the top three fell cheaply. His effort follows a similar template set by Hasan Mahmud, who took 6 for 55 in the first Test in Darwin and helped Bangladesh secure their maiden Test win on Australian soil. Between the two bowlers, Bangladesh’s pace attack has now delivered back-to-back standout performances against a batting lineup that has struggled for consistency through the series.
Shoriful’s haul is also the best return by a touring bowler against Australia since Curtly Ambrose picked up 7 for 25 in 1993, a comparison that places his spell among the more significant visiting performances on Australian soil in recent decades.
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Starc Hits Back As Bangladesh Slip In Second Innings
Bangladesh’s advantage narrowed quickly once their second innings began. Mitchell Starc struck twice in his third over, and removed Shadman Islam for one and bowled Mominul Haque for a duck on the very next ball.
Pat Cummins then dismissed Tanzid Hasan for nine, caught by Starc running around at deep fine leg. Bangladesh reached lunch on 39 for 3, still 107 runs ahead, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto unbeaten on 23 and Mushfiqur Rahim on four. Bangladesh currently lead the two-match series 1-0 following their nine-wicket win in Darwin.
Starc had taken 6 for 12 in Bangladesh’s first innings, and his early strikes on Day 2 kept Australia in the contest despite conceding a sizeable first-innings deficit. The match remains on course for an early finish within three or four days given the pace of wickets falling on both sides.
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