Mehidy Hasan Miraz Foxes Australia in Historic Darwin Test

The Bangladesh all rounder combined a crucial 65 with a match winning five wicket haul as Bangladesh secured their first ever Test victory on Australian soil.

Bangladesh have produced one of the biggest results in their Test history, defeating Australia by nine wickets in Darwin to claim their first ever Test win on Australian soil. At the centre of the historic victory was all rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, whose contribution with both bat and ball proved decisive. 

Mehidy’s performance was not simply about the five wickets he collected in the second innings. His 65 runs in Bangladesh’s first innings, followed by figures of 5 for 66, gave Bangladesh control at two crucial stages of the Test.

65 Runs That Changed the Balance

Australia were bowled out for just 198 in their first innings, but Bangladesh still had to make their advantage count. Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s 101 and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 84 provided the foundation, while Mehidy added a valuable 65 lower down the order.

His contribution became particularly important because it extended Bangladesh’s lead and helped them reach 426, giving them a commanding 228-run first-innings advantage. 

The innings demonstrated Mehidy’s value as a genuine all rounder. He was not merely occupying the crease; his runs ensured Bangladesh had enough scoreboard pressure to make Australia’s second innings a difficult challenge.

The Spell That Broke Australia

Australia fought back through Cameron Green, who produced a determined 104 to keep the hosts alive. Green’s century reduced the deficit and briefly raised the possibility of Australia setting Bangladesh a challenging target.

That was when Mehidy took control.

He had already removed Steve Smith with a clever variation the previous evening before returning on day four to dismantle Australia’s lower middle order. Alex Carey and Beau Webster were both dismissed by deliveries that deceived them in different ways, while Pat Cummins fell after inside edging Mehidy’s delivery to short leg. 

With Australia’s resistance fading, Mehidy completed his five wicket haul by trapping Nathan Lyon lbw. Australia were eventually bowled out for 284, leaving Bangladesh with only 57 runs to win. 

More Than a Five-Wicket Haul

The significance of Mehidy’s performance goes beyond the numbers. His 65 with the bat and 5/66 with the ball came in a match where Bangladesh had to withstand Australia’s attempts to regain control.

His five-for was also his 15th in Test cricket, while the performance made him the first Bangladesh spinner to take a Test five-wicket haul in Australia. 

Bangladesh ultimately chased down the modest target for the loss of just one wicket, completing a historic nine-wicket victory.

For a team seeking greater respect in Test cricket, Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s all-round performance was the perfect symbol of Bangladesh’s triumph: batting when runs were needed, bowling when wickets mattered, and delivering when history was within reach.