/ 20 April 2006

Australia wrap up Test series against Bangladesh

Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill shared six wickets before lunch on Thursday as Australia won the second Test over Bangladesh by an innings and 80 runs to sweep the series 2-0.

Bangladesh were dismissed for 304 runs in their second innings after Australia declared their first innings on 581 for four. The home side scored a paltry 197 runs in their first innings.

The home side added 109 runs for loss of six wickets on Thursday after resuming on 195 for four wickets.

In spite of a cameo from Mohammad Rafique — who hit 65 off 53 balls –Bangladesh, the world’s bottom-ranked test team, was far from making the world’s number one Test team to bat again.

On Wednesday Jason Gillespie worked his way to 201 not out to become cricket’s highest scoring nightwatchman and Michael Hussey smashed his fourth Test century before Australia declared their first innings at 581 for four wickets, taking a 384-run lead.

Warne claimed two wickets on the fifth day’s first session raising his match tally to 8-160, his 36th Test match, five-wicket haul. Fellow legspinner Stuart MacGill finished with 7-163.

Rafique fell to MacGill, caught by Warne, after smashing two boundaries and six sixes, including three in one over from Warne.

Warne conceded 21 runs in that over.

Shahriar Nafees added just four runs to his overnight tally of 75 before he was caught behind off Warne. Nafees struck nine boundaries from 180 balls.

Warne also removed Mashrafee Bin Mortaza (1) who lofted a catch to Gillespie.

MacGill dismissed overnight batsman Aftab Ahmed in his first ball of the day. He then removed Abdur Razzak for a duck and Khaled Mashud for 11.

Bangladesh lost the opening Test match by three wickets.

The first of the three limited-overs international between the two sides will be played in Chittagong on Sunday. – Sapa-AP