Mackay: Mitchell Starc’s sensational 10-wicket match haul powered Australia to a dominant innings-and-51-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay, helping the hosts level the series.
Starc claimed six wickets in the first innings and followed it with four more in the second to finish with career-best home Test figures of 10-51. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon also played key roles, taking three wickets each as Bangladesh were bowled out for just 95 in their second innings.
The victory completed Australia’s dramatic turnaround after their historic defeat in Darwin and produced one of the shortest Tests played in the country.
Bangladesh entered their second innings facing a huge challenge after Australia secured a 101-run first-innings lead. The visitors could add only 95 runs, extending their first-innings total of 64.
The defeat marked another batting collapse for Bangladesh, who became the first team in more than two decades to be bowled out for double figures twice in the same Test match.
Australia’s bowling attack dominated proceedings on a lively but even surface at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, with Bangladesh unable to handle the pace and bounce.
Starc was the architect of Bangladesh’s downfall. After taking 6-51 in the first innings, the left-arm pacer added four more wickets in the second innings to complete his 10-wicket match haul.
His final figures of 10-51 were his best performance in a home Test match.
Cummins supported him brilliantly, claiming 3-10, while Lyon finished with 3-25, including the final two wickets that ended Bangladesh’s resistance after tea.
Australia were not at their best with the bat but managed to build a crucial advantage. Cameron Green continued his excellent form in the series, scoring 67 — the highest individual score of the match — after his century in Darwin.
Australia were eventually bowled out for 210, with Shoriful Islam producing an outstanding spell of 7-48 for Bangladesh.
Shoriful’s figures were the best by an overseas bowler in Perth since Curtly Ambrose’s 7-25 in 1993, but his effort could not prevent Australia from securing a convincing victory.
The Test lasted only 750 balls, making it the shortest match played in Australia in almost 100 years.
It surpassed the duration of the two-day Ashes Tests in Perth and Melbourne last summer and the 2022-23 Gabba Test between Australia and South Africa.
Australia’s bowlers wrapped up the match quickly on Sunday, with Lyon taking the final two wickets within three deliveries after tea.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Shanto avoided a pair of ducks but fell after being caught at long-off against Lyon. Tanzid Hasan, who scored a century in the Darwin Test, was dismissed cheaply after Cummins removed him.
Litton Das’s difficult tour continued as Starc dismissed him for the third consecutive time without scoring.
Lyon then completed the collapse by removing the final two batters, sealing Australia’s innings victory.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
