Aussies suffer first loss to Bangladesh

Australia has succumbed to a despairing first ever loss to Bangladesh after a David Warner century was not enough to save them from collapsing in an epic Test match thriller in Dhaka.

With a stirring comeback story within reach, Australia’s middle order batsmen fell in a heap to deliver cricket’s ninth-ranked minnows a stunning result that will go down as one of the all-time great upsets, but at the same time an abject failure for Steve Smith’s men.

Pat Cummins almost pulled off a miracle for Australia with a six-hitting 33 not out, but Josh Hazlewood was trapped lbw 20 runs short of victory to spark raucous celebrations on the pitch and in the stands. Warner smashed a superb drought-breaking hundred in the sub-continent – an innings full of spirit ad fight and arguably the finest of his decorated career – but his dismissal opened the floodgates as Australia capitulated to lose 6-41 in the space of just 16 overs. Cummins and Nathan Lyon raised final hopes that a miracle was still possible when they put on 29 in 10 overs, but in the end not even the sight of the big bowler smashing two sixes into the crowd could stop Bangladesh from celebrating a moment in history – just their 10th victory in 101 Tests.

Chasing 265 to win in the fourth innings on a treacherous pitch was always going to be a huge challenge, and despite the fight shown by some, Australia’s middle order made a complete meal of the chase to be bowled out for 244 and lose by 20 runs.

When Glenn Maxwell was bowled by 10-wicket hero Shakib Al Hasan the very first ball after lunch, it was virtually curtains with Australia still 66 runs from home and only the bowlers left.

However, the real damage was done not today but in the first innings, when Australia’s batting failed so miserably they gave up a 43run deficit.

Bangladesh 260 (S Al Hasan 84, T Iqbal 71; P Cummins 3-63, N Lyon 3-79, A Agar 3-46) and 221 (T Iqbal 78, M Rahim 41; N Lyon 6-82);

Australia 217 (M Renshaw 45, A Agar 41no; M Hasan 3-62, S Al Hasan 5-68) and 244 (D Warner 112, S Smith 37; S Al Hasan 5-85). The prompted the resignation of captain Angelo Mathews.