Bangladesh have produced one of the biggest upsets in Test cricket history, defeating Australia by nine wickets in Darwin to secure their first Test victory on Australian soil.
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side completed the remarkable triumph on the fourth day at Marrara Stadium, comfortably chasing the modest 57-run target required in the final innings.
The result represents a landmark moment for Bangladesh cricket and a disastrous beginning to Australia’s demanding Test schedule, with the hosts entering the series as overwhelming favourites.
Australia had reached the past two World Test Championship finals and arrived at the match having won 18 of their previous 23 Tests. Bangladesh, meanwhile, had struggled considerably away from Asian conditions, losing 22 of their previous 26 Tests outside the continent.
Those statistics made the outcome in Darwin all the more extraordinary.
Bangladesh Finish the Job with Nine-Wicket Victory
Bangladesh needed only 57 runs in their second innings to complete the historic victory.
Their chase suffered an early setback when first-innings centurion Tanzid Hasan was dismissed for a duck by Josh Hazlewood.
But there was no dramatic Australian comeback.
Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam calmly guided Bangladesh to the target, finishing unbeaten on 30 and 25 respectively.
Mominul sealed the victory by cutting Beau Webster to the boundary, completing a result that will rank among the most celebrated moments in Bangladesh’s international cricket history.
Australia captain Pat Cummins did not bring himself into the bowling attack during the decisive chase as Bangladesh comfortably closed out the contest.
Cameron Green Century Delays the Inevitable
Earlier, Cameron Green produced a determined century to give Australia some hope of extending the match.
Green had entered the series under pressure to impose himself after Australia had gone seven months without playing a Test.
Instead of responding with an aggressive counterattack, the 27-year-old adopted a patient approach, spending almost five hours at the crease and hitting only four fours.
His resistance was crucial for an Australian side desperately attempting to recover from its poor first-innings performance.
Green eventually accelerated as he approached three figures, pulling Taskin Ahmed for six to move within touching distance of his century.
Nathan Lyon then helped him complete the milestone as the pair pushed hard for the runs Green required.
After reaching his third Test hundred, Green embraced Lyon and kissed the Australian badge on his helmet in an emotional celebration.
It was his first Test century on Australian soil and a significant personal moment, but it ultimately could not rescue his team.
Hasan Mahmud eventually ended Green’s resistance when a delivery stayed low and found the stumps via the toe of the Australian batter’s bat.
Australia were dismissed for 284, leaving Bangladesh with only 57 runs to chase.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz Produces Brilliant Five-Wicket Haul
Bangladesh’s historic victory was built on outstanding performances throughout the match, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz playing a particularly influential role.
The off-spinner took five wickets in Australia’s second innings, exploiting the deteriorating surface and the rough created around Mitchell Starc’s footmarks.
Four of Mehidy’s five victims were right-handed batters.
His performance included the important dismissal of Steve Smith on the previous evening before he continued dismantling Australia’s middle and lower order on day four.
Alex Carey survived one opportunity when wicketkeeper Litton Das initially moved in the wrong direction and could not reach an edge.
Das soon made amends.
When Carey edged Mehidy, the wicketkeeper successfully completed the catch to further increase Australia’s problems.
Mehidy then produced another important breakthrough when a sharply turning delivery defeated Beau Webster and disturbed his stumps.
The spinner completed his 15th Test five-wicket haul when Nathan Lyon was trapped lbw attempting a sweep.
Mehidy’s contribution was not restricted to bowling.
Earlier in the Test, he had produced a crucial 65 during a patient four-hour innings, underlining his importance to Bangladesh’s victory with both bat and ball.
Hasan Mahmud Named Player of the Match
While Mehidy played a major role, fast bowler Hasan Mahmud was named player of the match after an outstanding performance with the ball.
Mahmud finished the Test with match figures of 9-111, repeatedly troubling Australia’s batting lineup.
His performance ranked among the finest by a visiting fast bowler in Australia in recent years.
Mahmud maintained disciplined lines throughout the match and continued applying pressure as Australia attempted to rebuild its second innings.
His dismissal of Green proved particularly significant, ending Australia’s final substantial resistance and ensuring Bangladesh’s fourth-innings target remained extremely manageable.
Australia’s First-Innings Collapse Proves Costly
The foundations for Australia’s defeat were laid on the opening day.
The hosts were dismissed for just 198 in their first innings, leaving themselves vulnerable despite entering the match as strong favourites.
Bangladesh capitalised on the opportunity and steadily established control of the contest.
By the time Australia began their second innings, they faced the difficult task of overturning a significant deficit.
Green’s century helped Australia reach 284, a better performance than their first innings but still nowhere near enough to put Bangladesh under meaningful pressure in the final chase.
The visitors needed just 57 runs to complete the victory.
A Victory That Rewrites Bangladesh Cricket History
Bangladesh have enjoyed memorable Test victories before, including their famous home win over Australia in Dhaka in 2017.
But defeating Australia in Australia represents an entirely different achievement.
Bangladesh’s historical record outside Asia has been difficult, and the team entered this series as significant outsiders.
Australia, by contrast, have traditionally been among the hardest teams to defeat at home.
That context elevates the Darwin victory beyond an ordinary Test upset.
It could reasonably be considered one of Bangladesh’s greatest achievements since entering international cricket.
The result also joins a small collection of extraordinary recent upsets on Australian soil, including the West Indies’ memorable Gabba victory inspired by Shamar Joseph in 2024.
Bangladesh’s achievement may be even more remarkable given the enormous difference between the two teams’ recent Test records heading into the series.
Australia Face Major Questions
The defeat will inevitably create scrutiny around Australia’s batting performance.
Scoring just 198 in the first innings placed the hosts under immediate pressure, while several experienced players were unable to produce the substantial innings required to reverse the momentum.
Green’s century was the major positive, particularly given the attention surrounding his position and form.
But one individual innings could not compensate for Bangladesh’s superior performance across the match.
Australia now face a quick turnaround before the second and final Test.
Attention Turns to Mackay
The two-match series now moves to Queensland, with the second Test scheduled for August 22-26 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
Australia will enter that match under significant pressure to respond and avoid a historic series defeat.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will arrive with enormous confidence.
Regardless of what happens in Mackay, the events in Darwin have already secured a permanent place in Bangladesh cricket history.
For a side that arrived in Australia as overwhelming outsiders, a nine-wicket victory against one of world cricket’s strongest teams represents much more than another Test win.
It is a breakthrough moment — Bangladesh’s first Test victory on Australian soil and one of the most remarkable upsets the sport has witnessed in recent years.
