Published: 10:30 AM, 24 August 2026
Clinical Australia down Bangladesh to level Test series
Australia, led by Mitchell Starc's fiery spell, registered a massive win in the second Test of the ICC World Test Championship series against Bangladesh.
The current WTC27 table-toppers dominated proceedings right from the beginning, with Starc at his ruthless best helping Australia to level the series.
Australia began Day 2 by extending their overnight lead to 146 before being bowled out for 210.
Starc picked up right where he left off in the first innings, claiming two of the top three wickets to leave Bangladesh struggling at 39/3 at Lunch.
Najmul Hossain Shanto (31 off 46 balls) and Mushfiqur Rahim tried to rebuild with a 27-run partnership before Nathan Lyon struck, removing the Bangladesh skipper.
Mushfiqur played a lone hand, remaining unbeaten on 29 off 80 balls as wickets continued to fall at the other end.
Starc completed a 10-wicket haul, while skipper Pat Cummins (3/10) and Lyon (3/25) chipped in with three wickets apiece to wrap up the match.
This was the first time Bangladesh was shot down twice under 100 in both Test innings and first time in 21 years that any side couldn't cross the three-figure total in any innings.
Australia came into the Test 0-1 down after Bangladesh registered its first Test win down under at Darwin.
A total of 18 wickets fell on the opening day in Mackay including Bangladesh getting bowled out for 64. Bangladesh fought back with Shoriful Islam taking a seven-for - first pacer from the country to do so.
Overnight batter Cameron Green added 16 more runs to his score of 51 while his partner Nathan Lyon remained unbeaten on 32 to stretch Australia's total to 210. Shoriful and Taijul Islam got the final two wickets within 13 overs into the second day.
Starc began where he left in the first innings and had Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque in back-to-back deliveries. He also removed Litton Das for a 10-ball duck and later cleaned up Taijul.
Pat Cummins and Lyon chipped in with three wickets each as Bangladesh batters failed to gain any ground. Australia wrapped the visiting side's innings inside 39 overs with veteran Mushfiqur Rahim the remaining stranded on 29 at one end.
In total, Bangladesh only managed to play 72.3 overs across two innings while Australian batters survived 52.3 overs, making it the second-shortest Test in Australia and fourth-shortest overall.
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan, Litton Das, Shoriful Islam.
