Smith offers no excuses as Australia lose in Dhaka
Bangladesh score first win over Aussies, as Al Hasan takes five wickets in each innings
Australian captain Steve Smith says there are no excuses after a disastrous 20-run defeat to minnows Bangladesh in a gripping first test in Dhaka.
Set an imposing 265 to win, the visitors collapsed to be bowled out for 244 shortly after lunch on the fourth day yesterday, with man-ofthe-match Shakib Al Hasan claiming 5-85 to finish with 10 wickets overall.
It was Bangladesh’s first test victory over Australia. A similar triumph in next week’s second and final test in Chittagong would result in Australia tumbling to No 6 in the world rankings.
David Warner’s aggressive century had given Australia hope of achieving their second-highest fourth-innings chase in Asia.
But the visitors lost five wickets in the final hour before lunch and were unable to hold on in the following session despite a valiant unbeaten 33 from tailender Pat Cummins.
The match unravelled for Australia during a calamitous first innings in which they fell to 33-4 on the way to 217, with Warner, Smith and Usman Khawaja all dismissed cheaply.
Australian skipper Smith said there was no excuse for his side failing to adjust to the conditions after making great strides earlier this year during their tour of India.
“I think we made a few errors, a few guys getting out ways they’ve got out before and not learning from their mistakes, which is really disappointing,” Smith said.
“But you’ve got to keep trying to learn and keep trying to get better in these conditions.
“It’s a difficult place to play. We’re a young team and a team that is hopefully going to continue to improve.”
An embarrassed Australia lost to a side ranked No 9 in the world who had won only nine of 100 tests.
The first test between the two sides in more than a decade had loomed as an opportunity for Australia to overcome their dreadful record on the Subcontinent and notch their first series win in Asia since beating Sri Lanka 1-0 in 2011.
But for all their dominance at home, Australia showed they remained a fragile side overseas who could be easily exposed by quality spinners.
Shakib confirmed his status as the world’s No 1-ranked all-rounder across all three formats, taking fivewicket hauls in both digs after topscoring with 84 in the first innings.
Australia had reached a competitive 158-2 on day four to be on track for victory before their five-wicket collapse.
After resuming on 75, Warner raced to triple figures before being trapped lbw by Shakib on 112.
Smith, who survived a tight stumping decision from his first ball on day three and had twice been dropped, finally ran out of lives a short time later, caught behind on 37.
Peter Handscomb (15) and Matthew Wade (four) soon followed, while Glenn Maxwell (14) was bowled by Shakib with the first ball after lunch.
Cummins belted offspinner Mehedi Hasan for two sixes in one over to reduce the deficit but it was all over when Taijul Islam trapped Josh Hazlewood lbw for a duck.