Starc strikes again as Australia crush Bangladesh inside two days

The Tigers, who had stunned Australia with a nine-wicket victory in the opening Test, were unable to reproduce anything close to that performance at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. They were dismissed for just 64 in their first innings and then folded for 95 in the second.

Mitchell Starc was at the centre of Australia's response.

The left-arm quick dismantled Bangladesh's batting in the first innings with 6 for 12 before returning in the second innings to take another four wickets. His match haul of 10 for 51 gave Australia the decisive advantage and earned him Player of the Match honours.

Australia had resumed the second day on 165 for eight, holding a 101-run lead. Bangladesh needed the remaining two wickets quickly, and Shoriful Islam completed an outstanding individual performance by finishing with 7 for 48.

His spell was not enough to prevent Australia from reaching 210, giving the hosts a first-innings advantage of 146 runs.

Bangladesh needed to bat for a substantial period simply to make Australia bat again.

Instead, the collapse continued.

The visitors lost wickets regularly throughout the second innings, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto offering the strongest resistance with 31. Mushfiqur Rahim also tried to hold the innings together, but Australia kept the pressure on until Bangladesh were finally dismissed for 95 in 38.3 overs.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon played major supporting roles. Cummins finished with three wickets for 10 runs in the second innings, while Lyon also claimed three and contributed an unbeaten 32 with the bat.
For Australia, the victory was a dramatic response to their disappointment in Darwin.

Their batting was far from flawless-Cameron Green's 67 was the only score above fifty in their first innings-but their bowlers ensured that the hosts never needed a large total.

The result also ended Bangladesh's hopes of completing their first Test series victory in Australia.

Yet the tour will still be remembered for the breakthrough in Darwin, where Bangladesh recorded their first Test win on Australian soil.
Mackay told a very different story.

The series now ends level, with both teams taking one Test victory from the two-match contest.

For Bangladesh, the defeat exposes major questions about their ability to cope with Australia's pace and bounce over a sustained period.

For Australia, it represents a forceful response after one of the most unexpected defeats of their recent Test history.