Chittagong: Nathan Lyon (6/60) spun Australia to a comprehensive win over Bangladesh in the second Test that concluded here, Thursday. Lyon took 13 wickets in the match as the visitors managed to draw the two-match series 1-1.
Off-spinner Lyon set up the win for the Steve Smith-led side after returning career-best match figures of 13/154 as the Tigers were dismissed for 157 in their second innings.
Chasing 86 runs for victory on a deteriorating pitch, the visitors lost their top order before completing a seven-wicket win in the final session of the penultimate day of the game.
Glenn Maxwell (25 n o, 17b, 2×4, 2×6), who completed the chasing with a six, and Peter Handscomb (16 n o, 14b, 2×4) made sure Australia bounced back from their loss in Dhaka last week.
The hosts lost their grip after bowling out Australia for 377 in their first innings without adding a run to the overnight total. Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (31, 103b, 1×4) was the top scorer for the hosts. But none of the other batsmen could cope with a pitch that brought joy to Lyon.
Bangladesh started the day on a high, dismissing Lyon, final Australian wicket in their first innings, in the second over of the day. But Lyon returned to pick up regular wickets as Bangladesh slipped to 83 for five at lunch.
A 54-run sixth wicket stand between Mushfiqur and Sabbir Rahman (24, 59b, 2×4) steadied the innings briefly but an unrelenting Lyon got Sabbir stumped. Mushfiqur fell to fast bowler Pat Cummins (2/27) after being caught behind, leaving his side in dire straits.
Lyon completed his second fifer in the match when he dismissed Mominul Haque (29, 61b, 2×4). Cummins and Steve O’Keefe (2/49) combined with Lyon to wipe off the tail in the final session of play.
Brief scores
Bangladesh 305 & 157 (Mushfiqur Rahim 31; Nathan Lyon 6/60) lost to Australia 377 & 87/3 (Glenn Maxwell 25 n o; Mustafizur Rahman 1/16) by seven wickets.
Oz slip in rankings,
India on top
Dubai: India continued to be at the top in the ICC Test rankings but Australia slipped one rung to fifth in the latest list after drawing the away series against Bangladesh Thursday. India, who whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in the recent away series, have 125 points. Australia are now on 97 points, the same as New Zealand, but are behind on decimal points. Steve Smith’s men had started the series in fourth position at 100 points. Meanwhile, Bangladesh have gained five points from the series to reach an aggregate of 74 points, though they remain ninth, only ahead of Zimbabwe. South Africa are placed second at 110 points while England are third with 105 points.
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