LYON RIPS THROUGH RECORDS AND BANGLADESH
NATHAN Lyon’s careerbest performance has helped Australia to dodge an embarrassing series defeat to Bangladesh, winning the second Test in Chittagong by seven wickets.
Set a target of 86 runs to win after bowling out Bangladesh for 157 in their second innings on day four, Australia claimed victory yesterday in their 16th over and with a day to spare.
Glenn Maxwell (25 not out) scored the winning runs with a six over midwicket to the bowling of spinner Nasir Hossain.
The result tied the twomatch series at 1-1 after the ninth-ranked Tigers claimed a stunning 20-run victory in the first Test in Dhaka.
Offspinner Lyon proved the hero for Australia, backing up his seven-wicket haul in Bangladesh’s first dig to record career-best match figures of 13-154.
Australia were forced to endure some nervous moments during their run chase with David Warner and Steve Smith both falling cheaply.
Warner (8) was caught at deep square leg while attempting to pull a short delivery from paceman Mustafizur Rahman.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam then had Smith (16) caught behind to cap off his underwhelming series with the bat. Mustafizur had Renshaw caught by Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim before Maxwell and Peter Handscomb (16 not out) guided Australia to victory.
A 2-0 series loss would have sent Australia tumbling to No.6 on the world Test rankings, their lowest point in almost 30 years.
Lyon’s figures of 6-60 in the second innings took his wicket tally for the Bangladesh tour to 22.