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Mehidy half-century steers Bangladesh to big lead in Australia Test / Photo: © AFP
Mehidy half-century steers Bangladesh to big lead in Australia Test
Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored a valuable half-century as Bangladesh reached 417-8 at lunch against Australia on the third day of the first Test in Darwin on Saturday, a lead of 219.
Mehidy shielded the lower order brilliantly to reach 65 not out at the interval, with Taskin Ahmed on 12.
After Bangladesh resumed the day on 351-6, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood took two wickets to give the hosts some hope of wrapping up the tail relatively quickly.
But Mehidy's outstanding batting allowed Bangladesh to defy the Australian bowlers on a typically hot and humid Darwin morning.
They were helped by some poor Australian catching, including an almost inexplicable miss by Steve Smith, who got under a mistimed pull from Taskin in the deep but dropped the simplest of chances.
Two balls later Mehidy miscued a pull shot only for a diving Travis Head to spill a more difficult chance.
After defying the Australians for over an hour in the final session Friday, Hasan Mahmud lasted just four overs of the first session Saturday before being trapped leg before by Hazlewood, adding one run to his overnight score of 13.
Taijul Islam made a breezy 17 before becoming Hazlewood's 299th wicket in Tests when he guided a ball straight to Cameron Green at gully.
With Mehidy shielding Taskin, Bangladesh pushed the lead past 200 and kept the Australian bowlers toiling for another two hours.
Bangladesh are attempting to win a Test in Australia for the first time, at the third attempt.
V.Perez--SFF
