Tanzid Hasan scripts history, becomes first Bangladeshi to hit a Test century in Australia

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score a Test century in Australia, reaching the milestone on Day 2 of the opening Test against Australia at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on Friday.

The left-handed batter brought up his maiden Test hundred off 188 balls, the landmark arriving after Australia had been bowled out for 198 on the opening day. Tanzid eventually fell for 101 off 197 balls, an innings built on eight fours and a six, as Bangladesh moved to 238 for 3 in 67 overs — a 40-run lead over the hosts.

The knock also ended a three-year wait for a Bangladesh batter to register a Test hundred away from home, the last instance being Mahmudul Hasan Joy's 137 against South Africa in Durban in 2022. It is only the second century by a Bangladeshi against Australia in Tests, after Shahriar Nafees' 138 at Fatullah in 2006.

Bangladesh's position was set up by an inspired display with the ball a day earlier. Pacer Hasan Mahmud tore through Australia's top and middle order with a career-best 6 for 55, bowling the hosts out for 198 in 53 overs — their lowest-ever Test total against Bangladesh, eclipsing the 217 they were dismissed for in Mirpur in 2017. The figures bettered Mohammad Rafique's 5 for 62 at Fatullah in 2006 as the best by a Bangladeshi bowler against Australia.

Australia had begun steadily, putting on 45 for the first wicket through Travis Head (22) and Jake Weatherald (23), before Hasan's spell tipped the innings into a slide to 74 for 4. Steve Smith fought back with a resilient 71 off 109 balls, laced with seven fours and a six, but found little support from the rest of the order as Hasan kept picking up wickets at the other end.

It was Hasan's third five-wicket haul in 15 Tests, the second-most by a Bangladeshi pacer behind only Shahadat Hossain's four, and comes on the back of fifers in India and Pakistan — form that has made him a increasingly potent threat away from home.

Fellow pacer Taskin Ahmed also had reason to celebrate. His figures of 2 for 55 took him to exactly 300 international wickets in 204 matches, making him the sixth Bangladeshi bowler to reach the milestone. He now sits behind Shakib Al Hasan (712), Mashrafe Mortaza (389), Mustafizur Rahman (384), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (369) and Taijul Islam (302) on the country's all-time wicket-takers list, with 13 four-wicket hauls and three five-fors to his name at an average above 28.

(With inputs from ANI)