Smith, who had top-scored with 71 in the first innings, tried to take the attack back to Bangladesh, but they remained patient in their approach. They were unlucky when a Taskin delivery brushed Green’s leg stump off the inside edge, but the bails didn’t dislodge, much to everyone’s dismay.

Then came the big wicket. Mehidy, delivering the ball from considerably behind the popping crease, got Smith to poke one back at him. Mehidy swallowed a fine return catch, and the Bangladesh fielders ran wild around him. At that point, Australia were still 106 runs adrift but Green and Carey carried them to the close without further damage.

Bangladesh had earlier batted through 138 overs in their first innings, including seeing out the first session of the third day to pile on the agony for Australia. Mehidy kept the visitors’ tail together for 52.3 overs, himself making 65. He had been the only batter with substantial runs ahead of the Test after he made a century in the warm-up match against the CA XI. Mehidy reached his tenth Test fifty from 117 balls and signed off the opening session by hooking Green for six.

Australia didn’t help themselves by dropping five catches in total, though, including two in a Pat Cummins over towards the end of the first session – Steven Smith went first, dropping a sitter at deep-backward square-leg off Taskin, and Mehidy was then let off by Head, a much tougher opportunity running back from midwicket

Mehidy farmed the strike during his partnerships with Mahmud, Taskin and Taijul but his team-mates provided excellent support. Mahmud batted out 92 balls, while Taijul struck Josh Hazlewood for a six in his 23-ball 17. Taskin batted for an hour and 42 minutes for his unbeaten 14. Hazlewood took the wickets of Mehidy and Ebadot Hossain in quick succession after the lunch break to move past 300 in Tests, becoming the ninth Australian bowler to do so.