Mackay [Australia], August 23 : Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam made history, becoming the first-ever bowler from his country to take a seven-wicket haul against Australia on day two of the second Test at Mackay.
The left-armer achieved this feat against Australia in the second Test at Mackay. After his team was skittled out for just 64 runs, Shoriful outclassed Mitchell Starc's six-wicket haul with magnificent figures of 7/48 in 15 overs.
Just in the previous Test at Darwin, pacer Hasan Mahmud had made history with figures of 6/55, achieving the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler in Tests against Australia. Within a span of a single match, this record is history. Hasan's nine wickets in the match were instrumental in Bangladesh's first-ever Test win in Australia.
These are also the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler away from home, outdoing Taijul Islam's 7/138 against Zimbabwe earlier this year in Harare.
Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and elected to field first. After the embarrassing first Test loss, Starc took a vengeful six-wicket haul, ending with figures of 6/12. Pat Cummins also takes three wickets, as Bangladesh was skittled out for 64 runs. Shoriful Islam was the top-scorer with 14 runs.
In their first innings, Australia was 41/3, but a 77-run stand between Steve Smith (42 in 74 balls, with six fours) and Cameron Green started the repair work for Aussies, which was disrupted by the menacing pace and bounce of Shoriful, who reduced the hosts to 148/8. Green (67 in 105 balls, with 10 fours) and Nathan Lyon (32 in 62 balls, with four boundaries and a six) played crucial knocks, guiding Australia to 210. The hosts led by 146 runs.
At the end of the first session, Bangladesh was 39/3, with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (23*) and Mushfiqur Rahim (4*) unbeaten. Starc took two wickets, while Cummins ended the session with one wicket. Bangladesh trail by 107 runs.