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Tanzid Hasan’s maiden Test century and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 84 powered Bangladesh to 351 for 6 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test in Darwin, a lead of 153 runs, despite a late fightback that saw Australia’s pace trio strike three times in five overs with the second new ball. Steven Smith equalled Joe Root’s record for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper.
Five sessions into this Test, and all five have belonged to Bangladesh. What began as a stunning opening day built on Hasan Mahmud’s career-best bowling turned, across Day 2 in Darwin, into a genuine batting harvest — before Australia finally found something to cling to in the final session. Bangladesh closed the day on 351 for 6, a lead of 153 runs, with Tanzid Hasan’s maiden Test century as its centrepiece and a defiant unbroken stand from the bowlers keeping the total moving in the face of a late fightback.
Darwin, Australia: Bangladesh resumed their reply on the second morning at 96 for 1, trailing Australia’s first-innings 198 by 102 runs, with Mominul Haque and Tanzid Hasan both well-set overnight. By the close of the second day, Bangladesh had turned that platform into a position of genuine command — even after Australia’s bowlers finally found some reward with the second new ball late in the piece.
Mominul and Tanzid Extend the Lead
The second wicket pair of Mominul and Tanzid added 42 more runs in the first session before Josh Hazlewood had Mominul caught behind, ending a fine overnight innings for 49. It was, for a long stretch, the only breakthrough Australia had to show for their efforts, with Tanzid continuing to bat with the calm authority that had defined Bangladesh’s reply from the very first ball of the innings.
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Tanzid added 102 for the second wicket with Mominul before finding an even more productive partner in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, the pair adding 93 runs for the third wicket as Bangladesh’s total climbed serenely past 200 and towards 300.
Tanzid’s Maiden Century — And a Piece of History
The milestone, when it arrived, came in unusual fashion. As Tanzid approached three figures, no clear attempt was made to bring Australia’s field up and cut off the single that would complete the achievement. He reached his century with a simple single down the ground — his maiden Test century, compiled from 197 balls in just his second Test, and containing eight fours and a six. Playing only his second Test, Tanzid had curtailed his usual big-hitting instincts from white-ball cricket to bat patiently for more than five hours, and in doing so became the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century in Australia.
He did not last much longer. One over after reaching the milestone, Tanzid was undone by Nathan Lyon, holing out to a screaming catch from Mitchell Starc in the deep. He walked off to warm applause from the Darwin crowd, the toast of the ground on a day that would, for a long time, belong entirely to Bangladesh.
Shanto Falls Agonisingly Short, Australia Strike Back
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto continued the good work at the other end, punching Starc through the covers off the back foot and playing with the same array of enterprising strokes that had characterised Bangladesh’s innings throughout. He and Mushfiqur Rahim added a further 66 runs together, taking the total from 297 for 3 into calmer waters — before Australia’s pace trio finally found some reward.
The second new ball changed the complexion of the final session entirely. Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins each struck once in the space of 4.5 overs, dragging Bangladesh’s score back from 297 for 3 to 308 for 6 in a dramatic collapse that briefly threatened to undo the day’s good work. Hazlewood removed Shanto for 84 when the captain chased a good delivery outside off stump — a strong knock from 126 balls with seven fours and a six, but one that will disappoint Shanto for falling agonisingly short of what would have been his tenth Test century. Litton Das fell for a duck, edging an away-going delivery from Starc. Mushfiqur followed the very next over, left in his crease by Cummins.
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In all three dismissals, Steven Smith completed the catch at second slip — taking his tally level with Joe Root for the most catches in Test cricket by a non-wicketkeeper, a piece of individual history completed amid an otherwise miserable few days for the Australian captain’s bowling attack.
Mehidy and Mahmud Bat Out the Day
With Bangladesh suddenly 308 for 6 and Australia sensing an opportunity to arrest the slide, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud — batting at seven and eight — showed the composure the top order had shown for most of the day. The pair batted together for 24.3 overs to see out the remainder of play, adding an unbroken 43 runs for the seventh wicket and denying Australia any further breakthrough.
Bangladesh closed the day on 351 for 6, Mehidy unbeaten on 32 from 73 balls and Hasan Mahmud not out on 13 from 76 — both digging in with the same discipline that had defined the top order’s batting throughout an extraordinary day for Bangladesh.
A Test Unravelling for Australia
For Australia, Day 2 confirmed what Day 1 had suggested: this is a Test slipping away from the hosts. Hasan Mahmud’s 6 for 55 on the opening day — his third five-wicket haul in just his 15th Test — gave Bangladesh an unexpected grip on proceedings, and their batters have made the most of it since. Steven Smith’s lone-hand 71 in Australia’s first innings now looks even more isolated as the tourists’ only substantial batting contribution of the match, and with Bangladesh 153 runs ahead and four wickets still in hand heading into Day 3, Australia face the very real prospect of batting last on a wearing Darwin surface, chasing what could be a daunting target.
Bangladesh’s last Test appearance on Australian soil came 23 years ago. On the evidence of the first two days in Darwin, their long wait for a maiden Test win in the country is under genuine and sustained threat.
Scorecard (at stumps, Day 2):
Australia 198 all out — Steven Smith 71 (109); Hasan Mahmud 6-55
Bangladesh 1st innings 351/6 (110 overs) — Tanzid Hasan 101 (197b, 8×4 1×6), Najmul Hossain Shanto 84 (126b, 7×4 1×6), Mehidy Hasan Miraz 32* (73b), Hasan Mahmud 13* (76b); Josh Hazlewood 2/68, Mitchell Starc 2/68
Bangladesh lead: 153 runs, 4 wickets in hand
Key partnerships: 2nd wicket: Tanzid–Mominul, 102 3rd wicket: Tanzid–Shanto, 93 4th wicket: Shanto–Mushfiqur, 66 7th wicket: Mehidy–Mahmud, 43* (unbroken)
Toss: Australia (elected to bat) Venue: Marrara Stadium, Darwin | Match: 1st Test, August 13–17, 2026 | Test No. 2629
Key stats: Tanzid Hasan — maiden Test century, first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century in Australia
Steven Smith — level with Joe Root for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test history
Hasan Mahmud — 3rd five-wicket haul in 15 Tests
