Bangladesh remain on course for a famous victory in Australia after their bowlers took four wickets on the third day of the opening Test in Darwin. 

Australia reached stumps at 161-4 with Cameron Green (43*) and Alex Carey (19*) at the crease, 67 runs behind Bangladesh, who still have another innings in hand.

Saturday's play began with Bangladesh further frustrating Australia by batting through the first session. 

Having resumed at 351-6, they were led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz (65) as they tacked on another 75 runs, with their first innings lasting a whopping 138 overs.

Australia were also guilty of dropping five catches as frustration crept in for Pat Cummins' men.

And when they finally got to bat for the second time – helped by Josh Hazlewood scalping Bangladesh's final three wickets to reach 300 in Test cricket – they got off to a poor start. 

Opener Jake Weatherald fell to Hasan Mahmud for a second-over duck, and the same bowler soon had Australia reeling at 37-2 when he sent the bail flying to remove Travis Head (17).

Marnus Labuschagne (31) and Steve Smith (44) followed, the latter falling to Mehidy just as he looked to be building up a head of steam, and though Green and Carey plugged away until stumps, the hosts are in a difficult position going into day four.

Day 3 Stumps | Australia 161/4 🇦🇺 Australia finish Day 3 on 161/4, still trailing Bangladesh by 67 runs in the 1st Test.

A hard-fought day comes to an end with Bangladesh keeping the pressure on! 🇧🇩#BCB #BANvAUS #TestCricket #Day3 #Stumps #BangladeshCricket pic.twitter.com/3a5EI2q5F3

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) August 15, 2026

Hazlewood achievement overshadowed as Australia endure tough day

Hazlewood's late flurry of wickets made him only the ninth Australian player to take 300 Test wickets (now on 301), after Shane Warne, Nathan Lyon, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Starc, Dennis Lillee, Cummins, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee.

But by the time Hazlewood finally wrapped up a marathon Bangladesh innings – which had begun on day one – things were already looking rough for the hosts.

Mahmud (2-33), Mehidy (1-20) and Taijul Islam (1-28) all scalped wickets as Bangladesh enjoyed a fine afternoon with the ball to restrict Australia, and a first-ever Test win Down Under is now within their sights.