Bangladesh moved within touching distance of one of the most famous Test victories in their history after reducing Australia to 161/4 at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test at Marrara Stadium in Darwin. Heading into Day 4, the hosts remain 67 runs behind Bangladesh's first-innings total of 426, leaving the tourists needing just six more wickets to seal a historic triumph on Australian soil.

Mehidy Stars with Bat and Ball

All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz delivered a commanding all-round performance to put Bangladesh firmly in control. Entering the series having lost the ODI captaincy to Litton Kumar Das, Mehidy brushed aside any psychological pressure by orchestrating crucial lower-order partnerships and scoring 65 off 154 deliveries. Resuming the day at 351/6, Mehidy forged vital 46-run stands with both Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed to push Bangladesh to a commanding total of 426.

"Everyone is playing very good cricket and everyone is taking responsibility for each other. That feels very good," Mehidy said after the day's play. "They batted very well and actually it was a bit tough for me to bat. Because when I came out, Mushfiqur bhai was out. So, the runs I scored, I needed to score with the bowlers and I think it was a bit challenging for me to score runs at that moment."

Mehidy later delivered a pivotal moment with the ball, outfoxing Steve Smith for 44 with a sharp return catch after varying his pace to stifle the veteran batter's scoring options.

"We just concentrated on bowling in the right areas and I knew I cannot be giving him too many scoring options," Mehidy explained. "I know he is a very good player and he is doing very well but if we are not giving many runs we can take his wicket and we just think like that."

Hasan Mahmud Continues Australia's Torment

Bangladesh's fast bowling spearhead Hasan Mahmud picked up where he left off following his sensational first-innings figures of 6/55. Mahmud struck two devastating early blows in the second innings, inducing both Jake Weatherald (0) and Travis Head (17) to chop deliveries onto their stumps. The double strike took Mahmud's match tally to eight wickets and left Australia reeling at 37/2.

Marnus Labuschagne provided brief resistance before being cleaned up by Taijul Islam for 31. Smith's subsequent dismissal left Australia teetering at 122/4 before Cameron Green (43 not out) and Alex Carey (19 not out) guided the hosts through to stumps without further damage.

Milestones for Hazlewood and Smith

Despite Australia's perilous match situation, the contest saw two major individual milestones. Veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, returning to Test cricket after more than a year out, claimed 6/89 to reach 301 career Test wickets, becoming only the ninth Australian bowler to surpass the 300-wicket milestone.

Hazlewood also made history by becoming the first Australian fast bowler to claim a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in international cricket, surpassing Ian Harvey's 4/16 in 2003.

Earlier in the match, Steve Smith equalled Joe Root's world record for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test history. Smith grabbed three catches at second slip during Bangladesh's first innings to reach 218 catches in his 124th Test — matching Root's career tally in 42 fewer matches and 89 fewer innings.

A Historic Upset in Sight

Australia's biggest successful comeback from a first-innings deficit at home came in 2010 when they erased a 206-run deficit against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, with the hosts still trailing by 67 runs with only six wickets intact, Bangladesh are in pole position to claim an unforgettable win in the series opener.