AUS vs BAN 1st Test: Hasan Mahmud torments Australia with career-best haul on day 1 in Darwin
Hasan Mahmud celebrates his five-wicket haul in Darwin (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 13 Aug 2026, 10:56 AM• Read time - 7 mins
Hasan Mahmud enjoyed a memorable initiation to Test cricket in Australia as he gave Bangladesh the perfect head start they were after on day 1 of the first Test at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on August 13.
Mahmud tore through Australia's batting line-up and claimed his career-best haul (6/55) to help Bangladesh bundle out the hosts for just 198 in the first innings. He has now become the first Bangladesh bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Test match on Australian soil.
Before Mahmud's heroics, the best bowling figures for a Bangladesh bowler in a Test innings in Australia belonged to Mashrafe Mortaza. The former Bangladesh captain had registered figures of 3/74 against Australia in Darwin in July 2003.
Mahmud began proceedings by nicking off Jake Weatherald, snapping his 45-run opening stand with Travis Head. He then forced Head to drag one onto his stumps. Mahmud then cleaned up Alex Carey before accounting for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon. But his biggest and most prized scalp of the day was Steven Smith.
Smith (71) tried to charge at Mahmud, but the latter banged it short, and the former, swatting across the line, top-edged it, and Litton Das made no mistake while settling underneath it.
Best bowling figures by a Bangladesh pacer
| Player | Span | Best Bowling Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Shahadat Hossain | 2005–2015 | 6/27 |
| Ebadot Hossain | 2019–2026 | 6/46 |
| Hasan Mahmud | 2024–2026 | 6/55 |
| Taskin Ahmed | 2017–2026 | 6/64 |
| Robiul Islam | 2010–2014 | 6/71 |
| Manjural Islam | 2001–2004 | 6/81 |
| Nahid Rana | 2024–2026 | 5/40 |
| Khaled Ahmed | 2018–2026 | 5/106 |
| Rubel Hossain | 2009–2020 | 5/166 |
Talking about Australia's batting efforts, they just managed to put together two substantial partnerships: a 45-run stand between Weatherald and Head and a 55-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Smith and Alex Carey.
Smith held one end together as he has done several times in the past, scoring 71 off 109 balls, laced with seven fours and a six. He fell as the ninth wicket before the Aussies got bowled out for 198 in 53 overs. Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain claimed a two-fer each.
In reply, openers Shadman Islam and Tanzid Hasan began tentatively and added 36 for the opening wicket. Shadman (20) closed his bat face early to a fullish ball from Mitchell Starc, producing a leading edge which Nathan Lyon gobbled safely at cover point.
However, Mominul Haque (35*) and Tanzid (32*) finished unscathed, guiding Bangladesh to 96/1 at the close of play.