Australia level series with record-breaking Mackay win

Australia bounced back from a shock nine-wicket defeat in Darwin to beat Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in Mackay on Sunday, completing the second Test inside two days. The result is the 28th two-day Test in the 2632-match history of the format and only the fourth completed Test in Australia to last 750 balls.

Australia won the toss and bowled first. Mitchell Starc made immediate impact, removing Shadman Islam with the very first delivery of the match, the fourth time he has taken a wicket off the first ball of a Test. He then struck in the third over to dismiss Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto as Bangladesh collapsed to 12 for 5 and were eventually bowled out for 64. Starc finished with 6 for 12.

Bangladesh fought back with the ball on a helpful Mackay surface. Shoriful Islam produced a career-best 7 for 48 to dismiss Australia for 210, with Cameron Green top-scoring with 67. The 146-run lead proved decisive.

Bangladesh made 95 in their second innings. Starc struck twice among the first three wickets, Nathan Lyon removed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mushfiqur Rahim finished unbeaten on 29. Starc added four second-innings wickets to finish with match figures of 10 for 51, his fourth 10-wicket haul in Tests and a move to 445 Test wickets, overtaking Dale Steyn for 10th on the all-time list.

Starc, 36, said Test cricket remains his pinnacle. "I thoroughly enjoy being part of this group. Test cricket, I have said it before, Tests will always be the pinnacle for me and later on when we get to sing the song and he is leading it, that is one of the main reasons why we like to do it, love to do it. So, yeah, I would like to milk my body for all I can for Test cricket," he said. "What we expect from ourselves this week is what we got, particularly with the ball on a wicket that aided us with the ball. So, yeah, one-all series, but a much better week for us."

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each in the second innings as Bangladesh were all out for 95. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said conditions were tougher than Darwin. "I think this is a different condition and there’s a little bit more extra bounce and swing in the air. So it’s challenging for us, but as a team if we want to go forward we need to adjust and I hope this experience will help going forward," he said.

Bangladesh still leave Australia with positives after their historic first Test win in the country. Shanto added, "I think it is a very proud moment as a team and we showed our character and we were disciplined, as you mentioned, that the first Test and we need to be consistent."