DARWIN (Australia), July 12: Bangladesh needed a further 97 runs for victory over the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s XI after dominating the third day’s play here on Saturday.
Earlier, the Northern Territory tail crumbled against the Bangladeshi bowling attack, the last three wickets falling for just one run.
The home side was bowled out for 136, setting Bangladesh 187 to win the four-day match.
At stumps, the tourists had advanced to 90 for four, largely due to a fine knock of 44 from opener Javed Omar.
It would be an improbable victory for the Bangladeshis after they were rolled for 139 in their first turn at bat, conceding a 50-run lead to the Territory XI after the first innings.
Australian one-day spinner Nathan Hauritz was a significant casualty of the sustained Bangladeshi bowling attack on Saturday, badly bruising his finger on his right hand while facing young fast bowler Mashrafe bin Mortaza.
He was eventually out for 13, caught by Al-Shahriar from the bowling of Mohammad Ashraful.
Hauritz, who bowled a nine-over spell after being injured, will be assessed before taking the field on Sunday’s final day.
Hauritz, who played in Australia’s one-day series against the West Indies in the Caribbean last April-May, was full of praise for the cricket minnows, predicting their first Test against world No 1 Australia starting here on July 18 could last the full five days.
Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore said he was happy with the team’s effort, but disappointed they had lost four wickets before stumps.
Tapash Baisya was the best of the bowlers, taking 3-19.
NORTHERN TERRITORY CM XI (1st Innings) 189 (M.J. Clarke 79).
BANGLADESH (1st Innings) 139.
NORTHERN TERRITORY (2nd Innings, overnight 32-3):
I. Redpath b Mashrafe 0
N.L. Berry b Manjural 0
A.N. Williams b Baisya 24
M.J. Clarke b Manjural 1
K.E. Vowles b K. Mahmud 34
K.J. Skewes c K. Mashud b Ashraful 13
N.M. Hauritz c Al-Shahriar b Ashraful 13
D.L. Treumer lbw b Rafique 17
A.C. Dent not out 22
M.A. Hatton lbw b Baisya 1
B.J. Hatton lbw b Baisya 0
EXTRAS (details not available) 11
TOTAL (all out, 59.4 overs) 136
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-0, 3-5, 4-63, 5-63, 6-88, 7-93, 8-135, 9-136.
BOWLING: Manjural Islam 11-3-23-2 (2nb, 2w); Mashrafe bin Mortaza 14-3-24-1; Khaled Mahmud 12-2-30-1 (1w); Tapash Baisya 10.4-3-19-3 (2nb); Mohammad Rafique 6-0-17-1; Mohammad Ashraful 6-1-21-2.
BANGLADESH (2nd Innings):
Hannan Sarkar lbw b Dent 12
Javed Omar lbw b McAdam 44
Habibul Bashar st Treumer b M.A. Hatton 12
Mohammad Ashraful lbw b McAdam 11
Khaled Mashud not out 0
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-5, W-4) 11
TOTAL (for four wkts, 45 overs) 90
FALL OF WKTS: 1-28, 2-62, 3-89, 4-90.
BOWLING: B.J. Hatton 3-0-8-0; McAdam 7-4-10-2 (4w); Dent 5-1-15-1; Hauritz 9-4-14-0; Redpath 7-2-14-0; M.A. Hatton 11-4-22-1; Clarke 3-3-0-0.—AFP