Sports Desk

Bangladesh ended the opening session of the Darwin Test on a strong note, taking four Australian wickets despite the frustration of a dropped catch and two unsuccessful reviews.

Australia went to lunch on Thursday at 74 for four, with Steven Smith unbeaten on 7. Hasan Mahmud took two wickets for 25 runs, while Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain claimed one wicket each for Bangladesh.

Australia, after winning the toss and opting to bat, made a cautious start. The two openers initially dealt comfortably with Bangladesh's bowling attack, but Hasan provided the breakthrough in the 12th over by dismissing Jake Weatherald.

Weatherald attempted to drive a delivery outside off stump from Hasan but edged it to wicketkeeper Litton Das. He scored 23 off 37 balls, with Australia's total at 45.

Hasan struck again in the 14th over, this time removing Travis Head. The left-hander dragged the ball back onto his stumps and was bowled after scoring 22 off 39 balls. Australia were 52 for two.

Bangladesh, however, had already wasted two reviews. In the ninth over, they reviewed an unsuccessful appeal for lbw against Head after a delivery from Ebadot struck his pads. Replays showed the ball was passing outside the off stump.

Bangladesh then missed an opportunity to dismiss Smith early. On two runs, Smith edged an Ebadot delivery towards slip, but Tanzid Hasan Tamim could not hold on to the catch. Bangladesh later reviewed an appeal for a caught-behind dismissal off Ebadot, but UltraEdge showed no contact with the bat, costing them their second review.

Bangladesh claimed their fourth wicket late in the session when Taskin dismissed Cameron Green. Green attempted an attacking shot but edged the delivery to Mushfiqur Rahim.

Despite the dropped catch and two unsuccessful reviews, Bangladesh's four wickets in the opening session have given them a strong position and an opportunity to put Australia under further pressure in the Test.