Bangladesh’s build-up to a historic Test tour of Australia got the lift it needed in Darwin, where all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz rescued the tourists with an unbeaten century in their opening warm-up fixture against Cricket Australia XI. Coming off the back of a difficult ODI series loss on home soil and the recent loss of his own ODI captaincy, Mehidy’s innings offered a timely reminder of his value just a week before the first Test begins.
A Top Order Under Pressure
Bangladesh chose to bat first at Marrara Oval but found runs hard to come by against a disciplined Cricket Australia XI attack.
Tanzid Hasan fell for a duck inside the third over, and off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli tore through the middle order, dismissing Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim as Bangladesh slid to 158 for 7. With the top order struggling and the innings at real risk of folding early, the tourists needed a rescue act.
Mehidy’s Patient Rebuild
That rescue came from Mehidy, who combined patience with controlled aggression to steady the innings before accelerating in the closing stages. He first added useful runs alongside Hasan Mahmud before sharing a match-defining last-wicket stand of 69 with Khaled Ahmed, hauling Bangladesh from a precarious position to a competitive 263 all out.
Mehidy finished unbeaten on 109 off 141 balls, striking 11 fours and four sixes, and speaking afterwards, he credited the innings to adjusting to conditions he was experiencing for the first time.
“It was a little difficult for me since this is my first time playing in these conditions. I tried to adjust,” Mehidy said after play, adding that the century would give him real confidence heading into the Test series.
Bangladesh Strike Back With the Ball
Bangladesh did not stop at their batting recovery. Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed struck twice in the evening session, removing both Cricket Australia XI openers, including highly-rated youngster Sam Konstas, who was caught behind for just 1.
By stumps on Day 1, the hosts had slipped to 51 for 2, trailing by 212 runs, leaving Bangladesh firmly in control of the tour match heading into Day 2.
A Tour With Extra Significance
The warm-up fixture carries weight beyond its own result. This is Bangladesh’s first Test tour of Australia in 23 years and their first bilateral visit for any format since 2008, making the two-match series, starting August 13 in Darwin and continuing in Mackay from August 22, a rare opportunity for the Tigers on unfamiliar soil.
Bangladesh head into the series sitting fourth in the World Test Championship standings and will be looking to translate warm-up form into results against a full-strength Australian side.
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Confidence at the Right Time
For Mehidy personally, the timing could not have been better. Having faced criticism in recent months for underwhelming contributions and having recently lost the ODI captaincy, a match-defining century against Australian opposition offers exactly the kind of form and confidence boost few could have scripted better.
If Bangladesh’s top order can find similar composure against the new ball once the Tests begin, Mehidy’s innings in Darwin may end up being remembered as the moment the tour turned in the tourists’ favour.
Summary: Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck an unbeaten 109 to lift Bangladesh from 158 for 7 to 263 all out against Cricket Australia XI in Darwin, a warm-up century that arrives at a crucial moment ahead of the Tigers’ first Test tour of Australia since 2003.
