Cricket-Lethal left-armers star as Australia take 101-run lead against Bangladesh in second test


FILE PHOTO: Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - First Test - Perth Stadium, Perth, Australia - November 21, 2025 Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Ben Stokes REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/File Photo

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Left-arm pacemen ⁠Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam starred with six-wicket ⁠hauls as Bangladesh rallied from a dreadful start ‌to pin back Australia on a roller-coaster day one of the second test on Saturday.

Eighteen wickets fell across three madcap sessions on the ​bouncy Mackay wicket, with Australia limping ⁠to 165 for eight at ⁠stumps but holding a 101-run lead after blasting out the ⁠tourists ‌for 64 in the first innings.

All-rounder Cameron Green was 51 not out, with tailender Nathan ⁠Lyon on 10.

The recalled Shoriful celebrated his first ​five-wicket haul in ‌tests after missing Darwin with a hamstring strain.

With ⁠Australia trailing ​1-0 in the two-match series and under fire after their stunning nine-wicket defeat in Darwin, Australia captain Pat Cummins won the ⁠toss and put his quicks to ​work on a wicket prepared like a Gabba pitch.

Starc delivered with a brilliant display of swing bowling, taking 6-12, including ⁠the first five wickets in 22 balls.

The 36-year-old's masterclass saw Bangladesh bowled out just after lunch, but Najmul Hossain Shanto's men hit back hard on the back of ​Shoriful, who finished the day with ⁠6-35.

Shoriful blew away Australia's top order, bowling opener Travis Head (22) ​and out-of-form number three Marnus Labuschagne (4), ‌before trapping Steve Smith lbw ​for 44, ending a 77-run partnership with Green.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard)

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