Tanzid Hasan breaks new ground with historic Darwin hundred

Tanzid Hasan wrote his name into Bangladesh cricket history on Friday (August 14), becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century in Australia.

The left-handed opener reached his maiden Test hundred in the Darwin Test against Australia, completing the milestone with a superb drive through the off side from a full-length delivery outside off stump.

Tanzid’s landmark innings came after a series of close calls. He was dropped on nought off Nathan Lyon on the opening day, then survived another chance on 62 when a thick edge off Lyon flew towards first slip. Steven Smith dived but could not hold on.

Tanzid made the most of both reprieves. He brought up his maiden Test fifty from 102 balls early on the second day before forming a crucial 102-run partnership with Mominul Haque for the third wicket. Their 189-ball stand ended when Josh Hazlewood dismissed Mominul for 49 off 95 balls, with eight boundaries.

Tanzid then continued the innings alongside captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, maintaining his composure as Bangladesh moved beyond Australia’s first-innings total of 198.

He eventually reached three figures before falling for 101 off 197 balls, having struck one six and eight fours. Attempting to loft Lyon over long-off, Tanzid picked out Mitchell Starc and departed to a standing ovation after producing one of Bangladesh’s most significant Test innings overseas.

The century came after Hasan Mahmud’s career-best six-wicket haul had bowled Australia out for 198 in the first innings. Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed claimed two wickets each.

Bangladesh have now moved into a strong position to build a substantial first-innings lead, with Tanzid’s historic century providing the foundation.

For a country whose Test batters have rarely produced centuries in Australia’s demanding conditions, Tanzid’s achievement carries special significance. His breakthrough hundred not only marks a personal milestone but also adds a memorable new chapter to Bangladesh’s Test history.

Tigers' only previous Test outings there came on a forgettable 2003 tour, when they were bowled out for 97 in Darwin and 163 in Cairns, losing both matches by an innings inside three days. The best individual score by a Bangladeshi batter on that tour was Hannan Sarkar's 76 in Cairns — a mark Tanzid has now comfortably surpassed 23 years on, on his side's first return to Australian soil since.