Bangladesh turned a strong start into a commanding position on the second day of the Darwin Test, reaching 351 for 6 at Stumps to take a 153-run lead over a struggling Australia at the Marrara Cricket Ground.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim's maiden Test century and a composed 84 from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto formed the backbone of a day in which Australia spent long periods searching for a way back into the contest.

A watchful start builds momentum

Resuming on an overnight score of 96 for 1, Bangladesh began the day in a watchful mood. Mominul Haque and Tanzid negotiated Australia's seamers without taking many risks, with the hosts repeatedly hitting the hard-length area without finding enough response from a slow surface.

Tanzid reached his maiden Test fifty in only his second match, while the pair took their partnership beyond 100. Australia eventually got their reward when Josh Hazlewood dismissed Mominul for 49 — the left-hander chased a delivery outside off and edged it to Alex Carey, falling one short of a half-century after a 95-ball stay. By then, however, the partnership had already done much of the damage.

Tanzid's history-making hundred

Tanzid continued to grow into the innings alongside Shanto, combining caution with increasingly confident strokeplay. He reached three figures with a drive off Nathan Lyon in the 64th over, becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century in Australia — a 197-ball hundred containing eight fours and a six.

His innings ended soon afterwards when he tried to attack Lyon again and picked out Mitchell Starc at long-off for 101. By then Tanzid had put Bangladesh in front and had shared a 93-run stand for the third wicket with Shanto.

Shanto steadies amid late wobble

The 25-year-old's departure at 231 for 3 gave Australia some respite, but Shanto continued to keep the pressure on. He moved through to his fifty and then into the 80s, finding a productive partner in Mushfiqur Rahim. Their 66-run stand pushed Bangladesh towards 300 and took the lead beyond 100.

Bangladesh had now recorded three 50-plus partnerships in a Test innings against Australia for only the fourth time, and the first since 2006.

The second new ball finally gave Australia a spell of momentum. Hazlewood removed Shanto for 84, with Steven Smith taking the edge at second slip. Starc then struck immediately, having Litton Das caught by Smith for a duck, before Pat Cummins removed Mushfiqur for 36 to hand Smith a third consecutive catch.

Bangladesh lost three wickets for 11 runs, but the damage was contained. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud then held firm against the new ball, seeing Bangladesh through to Stumps. Mehidy was unbeaten on 32 and Hasan on 13. Australia had one final chance off the final ball of the day, when Mehidy's cut off Marnus Labuschagne flew towards Cameron Green at gully, but he couldn't hold on.

Brief scores

Australia 198 trail Bangladesh 351/6 (Tanzid Hasan Tamim 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto 84, Mominul Haque 49; Josh Hazlewood 2-68, Mitchell Starc 2-68) by 153 runs.