SECOND TEST: WARNER, HANDSCOMB BUILDING BIG AUSTRALIAN TOTAL —

DAVID Warner and Peter Handscomb last night turned the tables on Australia’s diabolical batting history on the subcontinent to push bravely through the pain barrier and take charge of the second Test in Chittagong.

Back-to-back centuries beckon for Warner (88 not out), while Handscomb (69 not out) is also on the verge of capping a courageous careerdefining knock after he almost collapsed with heat stroke in the dying stages before stumps.

He was in a world of pain as he fought through excruciating 40C temperatures on day two.

Warner and Handscomb’s unbeaten 127-run partnership amid the debilitating conditions sent a powerful message to the dressing room and both are in the box seat to have tons by lunch today as Australia went to stumps last night trailing by 80 runs in a commanding position at 2-225.

Put in to bat 15 minutes before lunch, Australia stood up to be counted.

Australia will need every run of the innings lead it appears likely to acquire today in the series decider, as it braces to bat last on a crumbling wicket when everything will be on the line.

But in response to last week’s embarrassment in Dhaka, Australia’s top order for once looked comfortable and confident when the ball spun and the temperatures soared.

Steve Smith looked in vintage touch for his flying 58 off 94 balls, before the captain had an inexplicable brain fade and cost himself a big century.

Smith and Warner had combined brilliantly for 93 after Matt Renshaw had sent shockwaves through the dressingroom when he was caught spectacularly down the legside by Bangladeshi keeperskipper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Unexpected wickets have so often snowballed into crippling batting collapses for Australia on the subcontinent, and Smith’s wicket sparked one as recently as in Dhaka when the tourists crumbled meekly on the last day. But yesterday Warner and Handscomb put their shoulders to the wheel and soon put Mushfiqur to the sword with a superb stand that Australia will hope has plenty left in it on day three.

Handscomb did unbelievably well to remain standing let alone not out by stumps, as he sought treatment from Australian doctor Geoff Verrall.

The bowlers were yesterday again indebted to spin leader Nathan Lyon for taking his fourth career haul of seven wickets or more to finish with 7-94 and end Bangladesh’s innings at 305 all out.

Warner then took centre stage.

Handscomb racked up his 50 off only 74 balls and after showing so much promise in innings in India, he finally kicked on with the job.