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Bangladesh’s batting collapse continued in disastrous fashion as they were bowled out for just 54 runs in their second innings, suffering an innings-and-38-run defeat to a Cricket Australia XI in a three-day warm-up match at Marrara Oval in Darwin.
Bangladesh had managed 263 in their first innings, with Mehedi Hasan Miraz scoring a century, but none of the other batters reached fifty. In reply, the Cricket Australia XI posted 355 to take a 92-run first-innings lead.
Bangladesh could not even manage that modest total in their second innings.
Resuming the final day on 19 for two, Najmul Hossain’s side lost their remaining eight wickets in just 17 overs. Left-arm pacer Campbell Thompson tore through the Bangladesh batting line-up, taking eight wickets, while off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli claimed the other two.
Opener Tanzid Hasan, who was unbeaten at the close of the second day, top-scored with 22 off 41 balls. He was the only Bangladesh batter to reach double figures.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz was the next highest scorer, making just six from 19 balls. Najmul Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain were dismissed without scoring, while Sadman Islam and Mominul Haque also made six each, Soumya Sarkar scored five and Mushfiqur Rahim managed two.
For the Cricket Australia XI, Thompson returned remarkable figures of 8 for 25, while Rocchiccioli took 2 for 6.
Thompson, only 22, has yet to make his international debut. He had played just two first-class matches before this game, taking three wickets, and had one wicket from two List A appearances.
His stunning performance against Bangladesh therefore came as a major surprise and exposed serious concerns over Bangladesh’s batting ahead of their Test series against Australia.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh: 263 & 54 (Tanzid 22, Sadman 6, Mominul 6, Miraz 6, Soumya 5, Mushfiqur 2, Najmul 0; Thompson 8/25, Rocchiccioli 2/6)
Cricket Australia XI: 355
Result: Cricket Australia XI won by an innings and 38 runs.
Bangladesh will begin the first Test against Australia in Darwin on August 13, with the second Test scheduled to start in Mackay on August 22.
The crushing batting collapse in the warm-up match will be a major concern for Bangladesh before they face Australia’s formidable pace attack, including Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.