Bangladesh wicket-keeper Litton Das has had a poor time with the bat during the two-Test tour of Australia this month, finishing with scores of 0, DNB, 0 and 0. In the first Test at Marrara Stadium in Darwin he was dismissed for a 12-ball duck in the first innings, caught by Steve Smith off Mitchell Starc. He did not bat in the second innings as Bangladesh comfortably chased down a target of 57 to seal a historic nine-wicket victory which was also their first Test win on Australian soil. The second Test at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, which began on 22 August and ended inside two days, was another disappointing match for Das.
Das was trapped lbw by Starc for a five-ball duck in the first innings as Bangladesh collapsed to 64 all out. In the second innings he managed to face only 10 balls before edging Starc to Beau Webster at slip for another duck as Bangladesh were bowled out for 95. Australia won by an innings and 51 runs to level the series 1-1. Starc picked up the Bangladeshi's wicket in all three innings he faced. The series for him ends with zero runs from three innings. Being the senior batter of the team, he faced plenty of criticisms online for his string of low scores.
Australia level series with emphatic innings win at Mackay
Australia bounced back from their shock defeat in Darwin to level the two-Test series against Bangladesh with a dominant innings and 51 runs win at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. The second Test began on 22 August and finished inside two days. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Australia’s pace attack ran through Bangladesh. Mitchell Starc picked up 6 for 12 as the visitors were dismissed for just 64 in just 34 overs.
The top order collapsed early, with four batsmen falling for ducks and the innings never recovered from there. Australia scored 210 and took a big lead in the match. Cameron Green top-scored with an unbeaten 51, while Steve Smith contributed a solid 42. Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam produced an excellent spell of 6 for 35 but the home side still got a big lead.
Bangladesh again struggled against the new ball. Starc picked up four more wickets, finishing with match figures of 10 for 51. The visitors were bowled out for just 95 in their second innings, with Mushfiqur Rahim the only batsman to play well, remaining unbeaten on 29. The rest of the line-up were dismissed cheaply as Australia sealed victory by an innings and 51 runs. The series ended 1-1 after this win. Starc was named player of the match and player of the series for his 12 wickets across the two matches. This match also produced one of the lowest match aggregates between the two sides and was also the first time Bangladesh had been bowled out twice for under 100 in a single Test.
