Bangladesh is on the cusp of achieving one of the most significant wins in their Test history, as Australia struggled to 161-4 at the end of day three in the first Test in Darwin, still trailing by 67 runs. Australia's Cameron Green and Alex Carey are attempting to steady the ship, but the home team faces a daunting task to overcome the deficit and build a competitive total to defend. If Bangladesh can claim six more wickets quickly, they may secure an innings victory, which would be their first Test win on Australian soil and potentially their most significant win in Test cricket. Resuming at 351-6, Mehidy Hasan Miraz guided Bangladesh's tail to add 75 more runs, extending their first-innings lead beyond 200 before making a crucial breakthrough with the ball by dismissing Steve Smith late in the day.
Mehidy shared partnerships of 46 with Hasan Mahmud, 18 with Taijul Islam, and 46 with Taskin Ahmed before being dismissed for 65 from 154 balls. Australia's own mistakes, including three dropped catches, have hindered their progress, taking their total to five dropped catches in the match. Josh Hazlewood claimed all four wickets to fall on Saturday, finishing with 6-89 from 28 overs, including his 300th Test wicket, making him the fourth member of Australia's renowned 'Big Four' bowling attack to reach the milestone and the ninth Australian overall.
Australia lost both openers cheaply as Bangladesh tightened their grip on the match at Marrara Stadium before tea, with Jake Weatherald and Travis Head chopping on while attempting to cut paceman Hasan Mahmud. Marnus Labuschagne looked busy at the crease until he missed a straight ball from spinner Taijul Islam and was bowled for 31 from 59 deliveries. Australia's hopes rested on Smith's shoulders, but the match swung firmly in Bangladesh's favor when Mehidy snaffled a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss Smith for 44, leaving Australia 122-4 and still 106 runs behind.
The largest first-innings deficit Australia have overcome to win a home Test is 206 runs, achieved against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2010.