Hasan Mahmud congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Steve Smith during their cricket Test match in Darwin, Australia
| Photo Credit: AAP Image via AP
Hasan Mahmud took a career-best haul of 6-55 to help bowl out Australia for 198 on the opening day of the Top End Test cricket series against Australia.Hasan struck in his sixth and seventh overs to remove openers Jake Weatherald (23) and Travis Head (22) on Thursday (August 13, 2026) after Australia had won the toss and raced to 45 without loss on a green-tinged wicket in the tropical far northern Australian city of Darwin.From there, pacemen Hasan, Taskin Ahmed (2-55) and Ebadot Hossain (2-39) dominated the first two sessions, bowling with discipline to exploiting the conditions and get on top of a batting lineup that was held together primarily by Steve Smith's defiant 71.Smith was the next-to-last wicket to fall, advancing at Hasan and top-edging a high catch to wicketkeeper Litton Das to end a 109-ball innings that contained seven boundaries and a six.Cummins returnsThe day started positively for the hosts, with skipper Pat Cummins winning the toss and electing to bat. Playing just his second Test in 13 months, he reunited in the pace attack with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. The frontline quicks will be supported by veteran offspinner Nathan Lyon and all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster.A partisan crowd was in full support of Darwin-born Weatherald but he was never really settled and needlessly swiped at a widish ball from Hasan.
