Mitchell Starc delivered a match-winning spell of fast bowling, claiming 10 wickets across both innings as Australia demolished Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in the second Test in Mackay on Sunday, levelling the two-match series at 1-1.
The emphatic result came after Bangladesh had shocked the world’s top-ranked side with a nine-wicket victory in the opening Test in Darwin. Australia responded in the most emphatic fashion possible, wrapping up the match inside two days after 18 wickets had fallen on a frenetic opening day.
Resuming on 165 for 8, Australia were dismissed for 210 in the morning session, securing a first-innings lead of 146. Cameron Green top-scored with 67, while Shoriful Islam claimed 7 for 48, the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test.
Bangladesh’s first-innings response was shambolic, as they collapsed to 64 all out with Starc taking 6 for 12. Their second innings was little better, with the visitors managing just 95 all out as Starc added another four wickets. Pat Cummins chipped in with 3 for 10, and Nathan Lyon took 3 for 25.
“We needed to bounce back, and it was a great few days from the lads,” Cummins said. “A lot of things went right these couple [of] days and a lot of things went wrong last week. I thought everyone was sharp. We had a great start and we didn’t really let up after that.”
The tourists’ second-innings horror show began immediately. Shadman Islam faced just three balls before playing a loose stroke to a moving Starc delivery and edging to Marnus Labuschagne at point. Mominul Haque was equally at sea next ball, failing to offer a shot as Starc uprooted his off stump, setting up a hat-trick opportunity. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings, survived to deny his nemesis that personal milestone.
Tanzid Hasan soon followed for nine, pulling Cummins to Starc in the deep. Shanto worked hard to soak up the pressure after lunch, spending 46 balls at the crease, but eventually lost his discipline against Lyon’s off spin, holing out to long off for 31 with Starc completing the catch.
When Starc was reintroduced, he was immediately among the wickets again, enticing Litton Das into a loose shot that was caught by Beau Webster at third slip for a duck. Mehidy Hasan Miraz then struggled to get going before thrashing at a Cummins bouncer and being caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Cummins removed Hasan Mahmud for two, and then Starc claimed his 10th of the match, the fourth time in his career he has reached that mark, when he bowled Taijul Islam for seven. Lyon wrapped up the innings in the first over after tea.
“We know how good Australia are. They showed their character,” Shanto said. “We were not up to the mark with the bat. It was challenging conditions here with extra bounce and swing; we would like to learn from this.”
Earlier, Australia had started day two on 165 for 8, with Green unbeaten on 51 and Lyon on 10. Green, who had scored a century in the first Test in Darwin, kept the scoreboard moving with quick singles, but he was undone by an inswinging yorker from the impressive Shoriful that crashed into his toe, with a review confirming his lbw dismissal. Lyon then brought up Australia’s 200 with a towering six off Taskin, and Josh Hazlewood added a crucial 24 runs before skying Taijul to Shadman for six, leaving Lyon not out on 32.
The commanding win secured a 1-1 series draw. Starc’s match figures of 10 for 51 earned him the man of the match award as Australia bounced back in decisive style.