When Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat on a picture-perfect Darwin morning, the script seemed written: a full-strength Australia would steamroll a Bangladesh side that had lost their only warm-up match to a Cricket Australia XI. But by stumps on Thursday, those expectations lay in tatters. Hasan Mahmud, with a career-best 6-55, led a pace assault that dismissed Australia for 198 — their lowest Test total against Bangladesh — before the visitors reached 96-1, trailing by just 102 runs. Main Developments Hasan's figures of 6-55 were the cornerstone of Bangladesh's dominance, but he wasn't alone. Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain each claimed two wickets, forming a disciplined seam trio that exploited helpful conditions. The 26-year-old Hasan credited simple tactics: "I was just trying to bowl line and length, trust the process and follow what the captain was saying." He also praised his fellow quicks, noting they "did very well also." Australia's collapse began in the 12th over when Jake Weatherald, on 23, swung wildly outside off and edged to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Travis Head followed soon after, chopping on for 22 to leave the hosts at 52-2. Steve Smith, the lone resistance, scored 71 but survived two early scares — a dropped catch by Tanzid Hasan at third slip and an edge that flew through a vacant slip cordon — before finally edging Ebadot to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Read also: Colombia quake rescue enters day 4 as hopes fade for missing Momentum swung decisively after lunch. Cameron Green chipped Taskin to short midwicket, Alex Carey played on to Ebadot for 19, and Taskin produced a delivery that beat Beau Webster's bat to clip the top of off stump. Cummins and Mitchell Starc both fell to edges off Hasan, while Smith and Nathan Lyon were dismissed attempting big shots, leaving Australia all out for 198. Bangladesh's reply was steady, not spectacular. Shadman Islam's 20 ended with a leading edge off Mitchell Starc to backward point, but Mominul Haque (35) and Tanzid Hasan (32) guided the visitors to 96-1 at stumps, with the deficit cut to 102 runs. Background This was Bangladesh's first Test against Australia in nearly a decade, and the visitors arrived as heavy underdogs. Their only warm-up match ended in a comprehensive defeat to a Cricket Australia XI, fueling predictions of a three-day finish in Australia's favor. Prior to this match, Australia's lowest Test score against Bangladesh was 217, set in Mirpur in 2017 — a record that now belongs to the 198 posted in Darwin. For Bangladesh, the performance continued a recent upward trend in pace bowling, with Hasan, Taskin, and Ebadot forming a potent seam attack. Smith acknowledged the challenge, noting, "We haven't played a Test match for a while and it can take some time to get into it. The ball was doing stuff and you have to be patient." He admitted Australia "got dragged into a few we didn't need to, but that's the pressure." Why It Matters This result upends the expected narrative of a lopsided contest. Bangladesh's pace trio exposed Australia's top order on a pitch that offered movement, raising questions about the hosts' Test readiness after a long layoff. For Bangladesh, it's a statement that they can compete outside the subcontinent, where they have historically struggled. A strong first-innings lead could set up a historic upset, while Australia faces the immediate challenge of clawing back into a match they were expected to dominate. What's Next Day Two in Darwin promises a pivotal battle. Bangladesh will look to erase the 102-run deficit and build a substantial lead, with Mominul Haque and Tanzid Hasan set to resume. Australia's bowlers, led by Cummins and Starc, must strike early to prevent the visitors from seizing control. With three days remaining, the match is finely poised — a far cry from the one-sided contest many had anticipated.