Guwahati: Bangladesh pulled off a historic Test victory in Darwin, beating Australia by nine wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Chasing just 57 runs for victory, Bangladesh reached the target in 14.2 overs, losing only one wicket. Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 30, while Shadman Islam finished on 25 not out. Mominul struck the winning boundary to complete a landmark victory.
The result gave Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and ended a 23-year wait for a Test win over Australia in Australia. Their previous victory against the Australians came at home in 2017.
Australia had been bowled out for 198 in their first innings after choosing to bat. Steve Smith offered the strongest resistance with 71 from 109 deliveries, but Hasan Mahmud dismantled the Australian batting line-up with a six-wicket haul. Taskin Ahmed also claimed two wickets.
Bangladesh then took firm control of the match by posting 426, securing a substantial 228-run first-innings lead. Tanzid Hasan was central to the effort, scoring 101 to become the first Bangladeshi batter to make a Test century in Australia. Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed 84, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 65.
Australia showed some resistance in the second innings, with Cameron Green scoring 104, but the hosts were eventually dismissed for 284. Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a key role with the ball, while Bangladesh’s attack kept Australia from building a decisive lead.
The victory marks a major moment for Bangladesh cricket, which had previously played only a handful of Tests against Australia without winning on Australian soil.
The second Test is scheduled to begin in Mackay on August 22. Bangladesh will now have a chance to seal a historic series victory in Australia.
A series win would put Bangladesh in an elite group of Asian teams to have won a Test series in Australia. India achieved the feat twice, in 2018-19 under Virat Kohli and again in 2020-21 under Ajinkya Rahane.