Australia responded to their shock opening loss to Bangladesh in Darwin with a thumping innings victory inside two days in Mackay to tie the two-Test series at 1-1.
Mitchell Starc took 4-39 to finish with match figures of 10-51 as Bangladesh were dismissed for less than 100 for the second time in the match.
Pat Cummins also claimed 3-10 and off-spinner Nathan Lyon 3-25 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 95 in 38.3 overs before tea on day two.
That followed their first-innings 64 all out, and though Australia themselves managed only a score of 210, that ultimately proved plenty as they wrapped up an innings-and-51-run victory.
“Much better week,” Starc, who was named Player of the Match, said. “We knew we weren’t at our best, or what we expect of ourselves, in Darwin.
“What we expect of ourselves this week is what we got, particularly with the ball and the wicket that aided us with the ball.”
As emphatic as the victory was, it may do little to ease concerns about Australia’s batting before visiting reigning World Test Championship winners South Africa on a three-Test tour starting in October.
Cameron Green hit the only half century of the Test match with his first-innings 67 for Australia
Australia, 165-8 overnight in their first innings, were evenutally bowled out for 210, with Cameron Green (67), who also scored a century in the first Test, the only batter to hit a half century.
The Tigers’ recalled left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam took 7-48, for the best innings haul by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test.
Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam claimed their best bowling figures in an away Test with 7-48
The visitors needed 146 runs to make the hosts bat again but slumped to 39-3 by lunch and collapsed in the middle session, limping to 95-8 at tea.
Starc, who took a stunning 6-12 in the first innings, was Australia’s chief destroyer with the ball again, the 36-year-old claiming 4-39.
He had opener Shadman Islam caught for one before bowling Mominul Haque for a duck in his second over. He later had wicketkeeper Litton Das caught in the slips for a second successive duck and bowled tailender Taijul Islam for 11.
Already the most prolific left-arm pace bowler in Tests, Starc moved 10th on the all-time leading wicket-taker’s list with 445 dismissals, four spots behind Lyon.
“Nathan (Lyon) didn’t remind me that I’ve just stepped on the first rung of the ladder and he’s still up there looking down on me,” Starc said with a wry grin.
Lyon captured the key wicket of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for 31, before taking the final two wickets in three balls straight after the tea break to wrap up the match.
