CAIRNS (Australia), July 25: Bangladesh compiled more runs in a single day on Friday in the second Test against Australia than they had managed in both innings of the first.

At the close of the opening day Bangladesh, who made just 97 and 178 in Darwin, were a creditable 289 for eight, their second highest first innings score in their brief Test history.

Opener Sarkar led the way with his highest Test score of 76 as the visitors reached 155 for one an hour after lunch.

Sarkar, 20, was dismissed 24 runs short of his maiden Test hundred when he became one of three batsmen to fall for one run within 15 deliveries in the middle session.

“We made 400 in our first Test against India (three years ago),” Sarkar told a news conference. “After that this is our greatest day in Test cricket because it’s against Australia.”

“I think this was my best innings so far because I played confidently.”

Asked if he thought Bangladesh could win the game, Sarkar smiled and said “I can’t say anything.”

Stuart MacGill removed Habibul Bashar for 46, Hannan and Alok Kopali (5) before chipping in with the scalps of Sanwar Hossain (46) and Khaled Mahmud (0) late in the day’s play.

The New South Wales leg spinner finished with five for 77 from 24 overs.

After being dropped at slip on 29 and 58, Sarkar made his highest Test score as he put on 108 for the second wicket with Bashar before MacGill struck with the third ball of his second spell.

MacGill took a neat return catch to dismiss Bashar at 155, ending an entertaining 110-minute stand after Bashar had been dropped at slip before he scored.

New batsman Mohammad Ashraful was caught behind off Jason Gillespie (2-57) for a fifth-ball duck.

MacGill then claimed the key wicket of Sarkar in his next over when the opener was adjudged lbw to a full-pitched delivery at 156 for four.

Kopali fell cheaply to MacGill for the third successive occasion when he failed to control a leg break and was caught at slip by Martin Love for five to leave the tourists on 170-5.

Sanwar Hossain added 60 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud before MacGill struck twice in two balls, removing Hossain for 46 and captain Khaled Mahmud for a first-ball duck.

Mashud was finally out for 44 at 281 after sharing a Bangladesh record partnership for the eighth wicket of 51 with Baisaya.

Brett Lee had made the initial breakthrough for Australia in the morning session when he had Javed Omar (26) caught behind by Adam Gilchrist.

Lee finished the day with 1-88 off 18 overs on a wicket that was supposed to suit one of the world’s fastest bowlers against the game’s bottom-ranked taem.

Australia lead the two-test series 1-0 after Bangladesh, who have not won a Test match in 20 attempts, lost the first Test inside three days by an innings and 132 runs last week.