Mitchell Starc delivered a devastating fast-bowling display as Australia secured an innings and 51-run victory over Bangladesh at Mackay. The win, completed inside two days, saw Starc take 10 wickets as Australia bounced back from their Darwin defeat to level the two-match series 1-1.
Mitchell Starc tears through Bangladesh twice
From the moment he took the new ball, Starc exploited movement, pace and relentless accuracy on a surface conducive to fast bowling. Bangladesh had no answer in the first innings, being dismissed for 64, as Starc’s figures of 6/12 repeatedly beat the ball and exposed the visitors’ technical frailties.
Starc was equally potent in the second innings, claiming 4/39 to complete a 10-wicket match haul. The performance earned him Player of the Match honours and reaffirmed his status as one of Australia’s most potent red-ball weapons.Shoriful Islam produces a record-breaking spell
Despite the outcome, Shoriful Islam delivered a sensational individual performance for Bangladesh. With Australia looking to extend their lead, the left-arm seamer ripped through the home batting order, claiming career-best figures of 7/48 to become the first Bangladeshi fast bowler to take seven wickets in a Test innings.
Shoriful’s effort briefly raised hopes of a fightback, but he received little support from the opposite end. Australia finished their innings on 210, with Cameron Green contributing a composed 67. Having scored a century in the opening Test, Green displayed patience against Bangladesh’s attack, while Nathan Lyon added valuable runs with an unbeaten 32, helping Australia establish a 146-run first-innings lead.Australia finish the job in ruthless fashion
Bangladesh needed a miracle in their second innings, but Australia’s attack swiftly quashed any comeback hopes. Najmul Hossain Shanto provided brief resistance with a fighting 31, but wickets continued to tumble. Pat Cummins chipped in with economical figures of 3/10, while Lyon extracted assistance from the deteriorating pitch to finish with 3/25.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 95, handing Australia a dominant innings and 51-run victory. The result levelled the series and served as a strong response to their Darwin setback. For Bangladesh, Shoriful’s historic performance stood as a rare bright spot amid otherwise Australian bowling dominance.