Mitchell Starc delivered a masterclass in fast bowling, claiming 10 wickets for 51 runs to propel Australia to a commanding innings and 51-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test. The result, achieved in just two days at Mackay, allowed the hosts to level the two-match series after their shock nine-wicket defeat in the opening encounter at Darwin.
Australia’s dominance began early, as they bowled the visitors out for a meager 64 in the first innings, with Starc claiming 6-12. Resuming the second day at 165-8, Australia extended their first-innings total to 210, securing a lead of 146 runs. Cameron Green anchored the effort with 67, while Nathan Lyon added a resilient 32 not out. Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam was the standout for the tourists, finishing with 7-48—the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test—while Josh Hazlewood contributed a vital 24 runs for the final wicket.
Facing a massive deficit, Bangladesh’s batting lineup crumbled again, managing only 95 all out in their second innings. Starc was once more the primary architect of the collapse, taking 4-39. He was supported by captain Pat Cummins, who claimed 3-10, and Nathan Lyon, who finished with 3-25.
The visitors endured a disastrous start to their second innings. Shadman Islam fell in the third over, followed immediately by Mominul Haque, who was bowled by Starc to set up a hat-trick opportunity. Tanzid Hasan was the next to depart for nine, caught in the deep off Cummins. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto provided some resistance with a 46-ball 31, but he eventually holed out to Starc off the bowling of Lyon.
The collapse accelerated after lunch as Litton Das was caught by Beau Webster for a duck off Starc, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz fell to a bouncer from Cummins, caught behind by Alex Carey. Cummins then dismissed Hasan Mahmud for two, before Starc sealed his 10-wicket match haul by bowling Taijul Islam for seven. Lyon cleaned up the remaining tail in the first over following the tea break.
Reflecting on the turnaround, Pat Cummins noted that while the previous week was difficult, the team showed character to bounce back effectively. He credited the squad for maintaining intensity throughout the two days. Shanto acknowledged the disparity in performance, stating that Bangladesh struggled with the extra bounce and swing in the conditions and needed to learn from the experience.
The match concluded rapidly, with 18 wickets falling on a frenetic opening day. Green, who had scored a century in the first Test, was eventually dismissed lbw by an inswinging yorker from Shoriful. The victory serves as a significant statement for Australia, who successfully neutralized the threat posed by the visitors after the initial series setback. The report also notes that “A lot of things went right these couple [of] days and a lot of things went wrong last week,” said Cummins. The report also notes that and we didn’t really let up after that.”, it was a great start. The report also notes that with Shadman Islam lasting just three balls, playing a meaningless stroke to a moving Starc delivery and edging to Marnus Labuschagne at point, bangladesh had a horror start. The report also notes that but he eventually lost focus against the off-spin of Lyon, holing out to the safe hands of Starc at long off on 31, shanto did well to soak up the pressure after lunch for 46 deliveries. The report also notes that he was front and centre again, enticing a loose shot from Litton Das, who was caught without scoring by Beau Webster at third slip, and when Starc was brought back into the attack. The report also notes that the Australian captain then removed Hasan Mahmud (2) before Starc took his 10th for the match — the fourth time he has achieved the feat — when he bowled Taijul Islam for 7 runs.
