Mitchell Starc made a stunning start to the second Test against Bangladesh, taking a wicket with the first ball of the match before finishing the opening day with six wickets. Bangladesh's Shoriful Islam later matched Starc's six-wicket haul as 18 wickets fell on a dramatic day of Test cricket on Saturday. Shoriful, who returned to the Bangladesh side after recovering from a side strain that kept him out of the first Test, finished with 6-35. Australia were 165-8 at stumps and had taken a 101-run lead. Cameron Green was unbeaten on 51, while Nathan Lyon was not out on 10.
Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first. Captain Pat Cummins felt the pitch could offer some help to the bowlers early in the morning. “The wicket looks pretty good, but if there is any moisture in it, it might be this morning,” Cummins had said during the toss. Starc quickly proved his captain right. Shadman Islam was caught at gully off a leading edge from the very first ball, giving Starc his record fourth career wicket with the first delivery of a match. Starc then removed Tanzid Hasan before having Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto caught lbw in the third over. Bangladesh, which had surprisingly won the first Test of the two-match series, was suddenly in deep trouble. Starc took his fourth wicket when Cameron Green made a grass-top catch to dismiss Mominul Haque for 9. Mominul was the only Bangladesh batter among the first four to score a run. Starc then trapped Litton Das lbw for his fifth wicket before taking his sixth after lunch. He finished with figures of 6-12 from 10 overs, while Cummins took three wickets.
Bangladesh were dismissed for just 64 shortly after lunch. It was their lowest total while batting first in Australia since South Africa were bowled out for 36 in 1932. No. 11 batter Shoriful Islam was Bangladesh's highest scorer with 14. The pitch continued to be difficult for batting even after the morning session. Australia's batters also found it hard to score freely. Starc was delighted with his incredible first session and spoke to his wife, television commentator and former Australia captain Alyssa Healy while walking off the field at lunch.
“Six (wickets) in the first session, can't beat that,” Starc told his wife, television commentator and former Australia captain Alyssa Healy while walking off the field at lunch. “Obviously a little bit of anger."
After Bangladesh were bowled out, Australia looked to take control of the Test. But Shoriful Islam had other plans. The left-arm Bangladesh fast bowler made an impressive return after missing the first Test because of a side strain. He took six wickets for 35 runs and helped Bangladesh fight back. Australia lost eight wickets before the end of the day and finished on 165-8. Green stood firm and remained unbeaten on 51, while Lyon was not out on 10. Australia therefore ended the day with a 101-run lead.
