Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam etched his name in the record books on the second day of the second Test against Australia in Mackay, becoming the first bowler from his country to claim a seven-wicket haul against Australia. He also became the first Bangladesh bowler to take seven wickets in a Test innings, with his sensational figures of 7/48 now the best-ever by a Bangladesh pacer in Tests.Shoriful produced a sensational spell of 7/48 in 15 overs to overshadow Mitchell Starc‘s six-wicket haul and keep Bangladesh alive in a Test that appeared to be slipping away after they were bowled out for just 64.The left-arm pacer also registered the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler away from home in Tests, surpassing Taijul Islam’s 7/138 against Zimbabwe in Harare earlier this year.
Shoriful tears through Australia
Australia began their innings at 41/3 but recovered through a 77-run partnership between Steve Smith and Cameron Green. Smith made 42 off 74 balls, including six fours, while Green continued the repair work with a fluent 67 off 105 balls, hitting 10 boundaries.Shoriful, however, kept Bangladesh in the contest with his pace, movement and bounce. He eventually reduced Australia to 148/8 before the hosts’ lower order mounted another resistance.Green and Nathan Lyon added 38 runs before Shoriful ended Green’s resistance with a pinpoint yorker to complete his magnificent seven-wicket haul. Lyon then remained unbeaten on 32 off 62 balls, including four boundaries and a six, and helped Australia reach 210.Lyon and Josh Hazlewood added another 24 runs for the final wicket, frustrating Bangladesh before Taijul Islam dismissed Hazlewood to end the innings.Australia’s total gave them a commanding 146-run first-innings lead.Shoriful’s achievement came only one Test after Hasan Mahmud had set a new Bangladesh record against Australia with 6/55 in Darwin. Hasan’s nine wickets in that match helped Bangladesh secure their first-ever Test victory in Australia.
Starc strikes again as Bangladesh struggle
Earlier, Australia had won the toss and opted to field, with Starc responding to Bangladesh’s first-Test victory in emphatic fashion.The left-arm quick tore through the Bangladesh batting lineup with astonishing figures of 6/12, while Pat Cummins claimed three wickets as the visitors were dismissed for just 64. Shoriful was Bangladesh’s top scorer with 14.Bangladesh began their second innings under pressure and reached 39/3 by the end of the first session. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was unbeaten on 23, with Mushfiqur Rahim on four.Starc had already taken two wickets, while Cummins added one as Bangladesh trailed by 107 runs.Despite Shoriful’s historic spell, Australia remain firmly in control and Bangladesh face a daunting task to avoid conceding the series-levelling Test.
