Smith: We let ourselves down in the first innings

Australia

Australia captain Steve Smith conceded that his team’s first innings total was the reason they lost the first Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Defending a target of 265, the Tigers memorably beat the Aussies by 20 runs for the Asian side’s first victory in the longest format over the Aussies in five attempts.

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After losing the toss, Australia did well to restrict the hosts to 260, which was dominated by a 155-run stand between Tamim Iqbal (71) and Shakib Al Hasan (84), but the visitors then undid all their good work with the ball when they were dismissed for just 217.

Australia then bowled the Tigers out for 221 and even though opening batsman David Warner struck a superb century on a turning pitch, the away side fell short of the target to go one-nil in the two-match series.

Smith said after the game: “It was a great Test match. Credit to Bangladesh. The partnership between Tamim and Shakib set the game for them.

“We let ourselves down in the first innings and then we did not play well in the second innings.

“We needed someone to go out there and get a big score in the first innings. That was the difference in the end.

“I thought he (Warner) played really well to get a hundred. One of the wickets where you never felt in as such. We needed to get first innings lead.”

The second and final Test starts in Chittagong on Monday 4 September.

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