Starc’s 10-wicket haul powers Australia’s decisive bounce-back in Mackay

Australia has secured a commanding victory in the second Test against Bangladesh, winning by an innings and 51 runs at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. The result draws the series 1-1, providing a significant institutional reset for the world’s top-ranked side following their unexpected defeat in the opening match.

The match concluded just after tea on the second day, with Bangladesh skittled for 95 in 38.3 overs in their second innings. Mitchell Starc was the central figure in the Australian performance, finishing with match figures of 10-51. His spell of 4-39 in the second innings followed his earlier figures of 6-12, which had restricted Bangladesh to 64 all out in the first innings.

Captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon each took three wickets in Bangladesh’s final chase, with Lyon taking the final two wickets in three balls to seal the win. The game was recorded as the fourth-shortest completed Test match with a side winning, with exactly 125 overs bowled in total.

In the first innings, Australia were bowled out for 210, with Cameron Green top-scoring with 67. Nathan Lyon added an unbeaten 32 to help establish a first-innings lead of 146. Left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, claiming 7-48 in Australia’s first innings.

The victory serves as a corrective response to the nine-wicket defeat in Darwin the previous week, which marked Bangladesh’s first Test victory on Australian soil. Cummins noted that the team needed to bounce back and that the players were sharp throughout the match. Starc, named Player of the Match and Series, acknowledged that the conditions aided the bowling performance.

Starc’s performance moves him to 10th on the all-time Test wicket list with 445 wickets. Australia’s next scheduled series is a three-match tour of South Africa in October.