153 ahead and rising: Bangladesh put Australia under serious pressure

Published : Friday, 14 August, 2026 at 10:09 PM

Hasibul Islam

Australia have found themselves under unexpected pressure after Bangladesh produced a stunning performance in the opening two days of the Darwin Test. Playing a Test in Australia for the first time in 23 years, Bangladesh have taken control of the match in a way few would have predicted before the series began.

After bowling Australia out for just 198 in the first innings, Bangladesh reached 351 for six by the end of the second day, securing a commanding 153-run lead.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the pressure has now shifted firmly onto the hosts. Working as a commentator for Channel Seven during the series, Ponting said Australia’s players could be feeling nervous heading into the third day.

“I really think they will be nervous here,” Ponting said.

According to the Australian great, the expectations surrounding the hosts have contributed to their current predicament. Australia were widely expected to dominate Bangladesh at home, but the first two days have completely changed the complexion of the contest.

“This is a game where everyone probably came in thinking they would blow Bangladesh away quite easily. But at the moment, they are completely behind,” Ponting said.

He also pointed to the pressure on Australia’s top-order batters.

“A couple of their top-order batters are already under pressure, and for some of them, there probably won’t be a bigger moment in their careers than what is coming over the next couple of days. So they will be nervous,” he added.

Bangladesh’s dominance began with the ball. Hasan Mahmud produced an outstanding spell to claim six wickets and dismiss Australia for 198. The visitors then produced an equally impressive response with the bat, led by Tanzid Hasan Tamim.

Playing only his second Test, Tanzid scored his maiden Test century against one of the most formidable pace attacks in world cricket. He made 101, facing the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood with remarkable confidence.

His innings helped Bangladesh establish a strong position, with the visitors ending the second day on 351 for six and holding a 153-run lead.

Bangladesh will now be looking to push their total towards 400 and extend the lead beyond 200. If they can achieve that, Australia could face a major challenge in the fourth innings.

Ponting, however, believes the pitch could offer Australia’s batters better conditions in the second innings.

“The wicket looks good. I think it looks much better now than it did in the first innings,” he said.

But the former captain stressed that Australia’s batting order would face a major test of character.

“They need to score a lot more runs to get themselves into a safe enough position to win the game, and that is going to be quite difficult. So I think very early tomorrow morning, we will get a really good indication of the mindset, quality and skill of this Australian batting order,” Ponting said.

Bangladesh’s current position is also bringing back memories of some of their most memorable Test performances overseas.

In 2009, Bangladesh recorded their first Test victory on foreign soil against the West Indies in Kingstown, with Mahmudullah taking a five-wicket haul and Tamim Iqbal scoring a century. Mahmudullah took eight wickets in the match, including five for 51 in the second innings, while Tamim scored 128 as Bangladesh secured a 95-run victory.

In 2021, Mahmudullah scored an unbeaten 150 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets against Zimbabwe in Harare as Bangladesh secured a 220-run victory.

Another landmark came in Rawalpindi in 2024, when Litton Das scored a century and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took five wickets as Bangladesh completed a historic 2-0 Test series sweep over Pakistan.

In Galle in 2025, Najmul Hossain Shanto scored centuries in both innings while Nayeem Hasan took five wickets as Bangladesh fought hard for a draw against Sri Lanka.

Those memories have given Bangladesh supporters fresh reason to dream in Darwin. However, defeating Australia on their own soil remains a completely different challenge.

Bangladesh’s turnaround has also caught the attention of former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Reacting on social media, Ashwin praised Bangladesh’s remarkable performance.

“Bangladesh have put Australia on the back foot in Darwin in a manner that perhaps nobody imagined,” Ashwin wrote.

He also highlighted Bangladesh’s remarkable recovery after being bowled out for just 54 in their warm-up match before the Test.

From that early setback to dominating the first two days against Australia, Bangladesh have produced a remarkable turnaround.

Still, the match is far from over. Three days remain, and Australia have more than enough quality to change the course of a Test match in a single session.

For Bangladesh, the task is now to maintain the discipline and intensity that brought them this far. If they can extend their lead significantly and put Australia’s batting under pressure once again, a historic Test victory in Australia could become more than just a dream.

For now, however, as Ponting suggested, it is Australia who appear to be carrying the heavier burden of expectation and perhaps the greater share of the nerves.

-HIS