Bangladesh take 228-run lead after piling on 426 in Darwin

Bangladesh tightened their grip on the Darwin Test after being bowled out for 426 in their first innings on Saturday (August 15), securing a commanding 228-run lead over Australia.

Resuming the day on 351-6, Bangladesh added another 75 runs before losing their final four wickets early in the second session. Mehedi Hasan Miraz led the lower-order resistance with a gritty 65, helping Bangladesh cross the 400 mark and build their biggest lead of the match.

Miraz was the first wicket to fall in the second session, edging Josh Hazlewood to the wicketkeeper in the opening over. The dismissal was a landmark moment for Hazlewood, who completed 300 Test wickets with the breakthrough. He then removed Ebadot Hossain to finish with six wickets in the innings.

Miraz had earlier stitched together useful partnerships with Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot to keep Bangladesh's innings moving after Australia had made inroads into the middle order.

Bangladesh's imposing total was built around contributions throughout the batting order. Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck his maiden Test century, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made 84. Mominul Haque contributed 49 and Mushfiqur Rahim 36 before Miraz's late resistance carried the visitors beyond 400.

The 426 is Bangladesh's second-highest Test total against Australia. Their record remains the 427 scored in the first innings of the 2006 Fatullah Test, leaving them just one run short of matching that mark.

Australia, who were dismissed for 198 in their first innings after Hasan Mahmud's six-wicket haul, now face a daunting task. They begin their second innings 228 runs behind, with Bangladesh firmly in control and looking to press home their advantage.