Bangladesh have ended a long wait for a Test victory on Australian soil, defeating the hosts by nine wickets in the opening Test of the series in Darwin. The landmark result was built on a disciplined all-round performance, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz emerging as one of the central figures after combining a valuable half-century with a decisive five-wicket haul.
Australia were dismissed for 198 in their first innings, giving Bangladesh an early opportunity to seize control. The visitors made full use of it, compiling 426 in reply to establish a commanding 228-run lead. Tanzid Hasan produced one of the most memorable innings of the match, scoring 101 for what became Bangladesh’s first Test century by a batter in Australia. His innings provided both stability and momentum at a crucial stage.
Najmul Hossain Shanto also played a significant role with an assured 84, while Mominul Haque contributed 49. Miraz added 65 runs, strengthening Bangladesh’s position and underlining his value beyond his primary role as a spinner.
The decisive moment, however, came during Australia’s second innings. Having already contributed with the bat, Miraz produced a superb spell of controlled off-spin as the home side struggled to cope with sustained pressure. Australia eventually collapsed for 284, with Miraz claiming five wickets. His intervention ensured that the hosts could set Bangladesh only 57 runs for victory.
Cameron Green was Australia’s principal source of resistance, scoring 104 and briefly giving his side hopes of extending the contest. Yet Bangladesh’s bowlers maintained their discipline, preventing Australia’s lower order from building a substantial partnership. Miraz’s ability to attack at key moments proved particularly influential as the innings moved towards its conclusion.
Bangladesh’s pace attack had laid the foundation earlier in the match. Hasan Mahmud claimed six wickets in Australia’s first innings and finished with nine wickets in the match, earning the player-of-the-match award. The combination of Hasan’s pace and Miraz’s spin created a varied attack that repeatedly unsettled the Australian batting line-up.
The chase was completed with minimal drama. Bangladesh lost just one wicket while reaching the modest target of 57, securing a nine-wicket victory and confirming one of the most significant Test results in the country’s history.
The victory is also Bangladesh’s second Test win over Australia. Their previous success came in 2017, when they defeated Australia in Mirpur. This result carries an added significance because it represents Bangladesh’s first Test victory against Australia on Australian soil.
Miraz’s five-wicket performance also places him among a select group of visiting spinners to have taken five wickets in a Test in Australia. India’s Kuldeep Yadav achieved the feat in the first innings of the 2019 Sydney Test, while Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath took five wickets in Australia’s second innings at Hobart in 2012, finishing with figures of 5 for 95.
What makes Miraz’s contribution particularly notable is the balance of his performance. His 65 runs helped Bangladesh build a substantial first-innings lead, before his five wickets helped dismantle Australia’s second innings. Together with Tanzid’s century and Hasan Mahmud’s nine-wicket match haul, his contribution formed part of a remarkably complete team performance.
For Bangladesh, the Darwin victory represents more than a single Test win. Success in Australian conditions has long been regarded as one of the toughest challenges in international cricket, particularly for visiting Asian teams. The manner of this victory, with Bangladesh controlling crucial phases of the match with both bat and ball, offers a significant boost to their confidence.
The result also demonstrates the value of Bangladesh’s growing depth in both pace and spin. Hasan Mahmud’s early breakthroughs, Miraz’s control in the middle and later stages, and the batting contributions throughout the order combined to keep Australia under pressure for most of the contest.
At the heart of that historic achievement was Miraz. His contribution with the bat, followed by a five-wicket haul with the ball, helped turn Bangladesh’s strong position into a famous victory. For a team that had waited so long to win a Test in Australia, Darwin has now become the setting for one of Bangladesh cricket’s most important milestones.