Bangladesh’s Test in Darwin was no longer a fight that had to be survived—after Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s control with bat and ball, a famous win in Australia 2026 started to look reachable. Here’s the “before-and-after” of how the match swung: Australia closed Day 3 with a damaging position in their chase of momentum, and then Mehidy helped Bangladesh push that pressure further. Match status is LIVE in the Darwin Test of the Bangladesh in Australia 2026 series, with Australia still trailing.

Mehidy masterclass: Key details: where Bangladesh gained control
Worth noting: Australia were 198 all out and then 243/7, leaving Bangladesh 15 runs ahead in the Darwin Test at the time of the report. Bangladesh had already set the tone with a first-innings 426, which at one stage translated into a 228-run lead. That cushion matters in Darwin, where spells can flip sessions—especially once the early overs in the fourth innings begin to bite.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s impact shows up in both innings. According to ESPNcricinfo match reporting, he finished with 4-50 in the match scoreline and also made 65 off 154 balls, with the time at the crease lasting 4 hours—a knock that helped extend Bangladesh’s total. In the same report, Cameron Green was 85 for Australia, and Mitchell Starc was 14 at the time of that update, meaning Bangladesh’s bowling work had to keep finding breakthroughs rather than only building pressure.
The bowling plot didn’t just revolve around one spell. Hasan Mahmud removed both Australia openers, and Mehidy later took the key wicket of Steven Smith—a moment that typically changes how a chase is paced, even when runs are available. That’s the type of wicket that turns a partnership from “safe” into “survival,” and it gives the bowling side permission to be more assertive at the other end.
Mehidy’s dual role (65-ball, 4-hour patience + 4-50 plus the Smith wicket) is the clearest momentum break in the match so far.
Context: the Darwin swing and the “historic win” narrative
That said, Bangladesh’s position has been built on patience through pressure points, not just one collapse. Australia were 67 runs behind at stumps on Day 3, and the match was heading into the sort of period where teams either convert advantage—or bleed it with defensive field settings and errors in shot selection. Darwin has rewarded discipline before it has rewarded aggression, and Bangladesh’s earlier lead meant they could absorb risk if Australia attacked with intent.
This was also the first Test of Bangladesh’s in Australia 2026 series, played in Darwin—so the stakes were bigger than a single scoreboard snapshot. Several match narratives described the possibility of a historic or seminal Test victory in Australia, and the way the innings unfolded has kept that storyline alive. When Australia can keep a batter like Green unbeaten for stretches, you don’t get to relax; you have to keep tightening the screws through wickets and control of boundaries.
Here’s the thing: Bangladesh’s first innings 426 created a base of runs, but the match still required sharp decision-making after the follow-through. Mehidy’s innings length—154 balls—isn’t a small detail in Test cricket; it’s the difference between “we batted well” and “we denied the opposition its rhythm.” Meanwhile, the bowling combination of Hasan Mahmud striking early with both openers and Mehidy removing Smith later turned the contest into a chase that had to be constantly re-built, ball by ball.
Before-after: how the momentum changed
The clearest comparison is between the early advantage structure Bangladesh created and the pressure they sustained while Australia were still searching for stability.
| Phase | What happened | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh first innings | Bangladesh made 426; lead reached 228 at one stage | Gave Bangladesh time to target wickets and not panic over tempo |
| Australia first and second innings (at report) | 198 all out and then 243/7; Bangladesh up by 15 | Australia couldn’t fully “reset” their chase without losing momentum |
| Mehidy’s personal impact | 65 (154 balls, 4 hours); plus 4-50 | Turned batting pressure into wicket pressure in the same match |
| Turning wickets | Hasan Mahmud removed both openers; Mehidy took Steven Smith | Partnership control shifted from batting comfort to chase instability |
Mehidy Masterclass: That’s why Mehidy’s masterclass isn’t just a tally of runs or wickets—it’s the way it connected phases: long batting to extend, then bowling to cut the chase plan down to size. Stay tuned for more on mehidy hasan miraz.
What’s next: can Bangladesh convert and finish?
Bangladesh are now positioned for a breakthrough that could reshape the series story, because Australia were already 15 runs behind at the latest report while chasing a path that depends heavily on the next wicket. The presence of Green—85 in that update—means Australia still have a batter who can carry the innings, but wickets like Smith’s tend to force batters into higher-risk choices.
Worth noting for match management: Bangladesh will want to keep their bowling lengths honest and avoid boundary leakage during the “thinking overs,” because once Green gets set, the margin for error shrinks quickly. If Bangladesh can repeat the pattern—strike, then squeeze—this match can move from “within reach” to “sealed,” especially in conditions that punish sloppy shot-making.
If you’re tracking the contest, focus on this: watch for the next wicket after Green, and if Bangladesh can keep the tail under pressure while maintaining control of scoring rates, pick Bangladesh to convert their advantage—especially if Mehidy’s momentum with the ball shows up again in the next spell.
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FAQs
What did Mehidy Hasan Miraz do in this Darwin Test?
Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 65 off 154 balls for Bangladesh and also took 4-50 in the match, including the key wicket of Steven Smith, according to ESPNcricinfo match reporting.
Why does the “65 off 154” detail matter for Bangladesh?
Because it reflects long, patient time in the middle—4 hours—which helps extend the innings and denies the opposition easy rhythm. In a Test with a big first-innings lead like 426, that kind of batting can be decisive.
How close is Bangladesh to a historic win?
The match narrative has been described in reports as potentially historic for Bangladesh in Australia, and at the latest update Australia were 15 runs behind with the chase still in progress.
Who is carrying Australia at the moment?
At the time of the report, Cameron Green was unbeaten on 85 and Mitchell Starc was 14, which means Australia still have at least one set batter to build around.
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