CHITTAGONG, Sept 7: Nathan Lyon spun Australia to a series-levelling win over Bangladesh today with a 13 wicket match-haul in the second and final Test.
Chasing 86 for victory on a deteriorating Chittagong pitch, the visitors lost their top three batsmen before completing a seven-wicket win in the final session of the fourth day.
Glenn Maxwell, who hit the winning six to take his score to 25, and Peter Handscomb, on 16, made sure Australia bounced back from their loss in Dhaka last week.
But off-spinner Lyon set up the win for the Steve Smith-led side after returning with career-best match figures of 13-154.
Lyon claimed 6-60 to dismiss Bangladesh for 157 in their second innings.
The hosts lost their grip after bowling out Australia for 377 in their first innings without adding a run to the overnight total.
Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim managed a top score of 31 off 103 balls. But none of the other batsmen could cope with a pitch that brought joy to Lyon.
Bangladesh started the day on a high, dismissing number 11 batsman Lyon in the second over of the day.
But Lyon returned to pick up regular wickets as Bangladesh slipped to 83-5 at lunch.
A 54-run sixth-wicket stand between Mushfiqur and Sabbir Rahman steadied the innings briefly but an unrelenting Lyon got Sabbir stumped for 24.
Mushfiqur fell to fast bowler Pat Cummins after being caught behind, leaving his side in dire straits.
Mominul, who made a 61-ball 29, became Lyon�s fifth victim of the innings.
Cummins and Steve O�Keefe, who combined with Lyon to wipe off the tail in the final session of play, took two wickets each.
SCORECARD
Bangladesh 1st innings: 305
Australia 1st innings: 377
Bangladesh 2nd innings: Tamim Iqbal st Wade b Lyon 12, Soumya Sarkar c Renshaw b Cummins 9, Imrul Kayes c Maxwell b Lyon 15, Nasir Hossain c Smith b O�Keefe 5, Shakib Al Hasan c Warner b Lyon 2, Mushfiqur Rahim c Wade b Cummins 31, Sabbir Rahman st Wade b Lyon 24, Mominul Haque c Cummins b Lyon 29, Mehedi Hasan not out 14, Taijul Islam b Lyon 4, Mustafizur Rahman b O�Keefe 0. Extras: (B-12) 12. Total: (all out in 71.2 overs) 157. Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-32, 3-37, 4-39, 5-43, 6-97, 7-129, 8-149, 9-156, 10-157. Bowling: Cummins 11-3-27-2, Lyon 33-11-60-6, O�Keefe 22.2-6-49-2, Agar 5-1-9-0.
Australia 2nd innings: M Renshaw c Mushfiqur b Shakib 22, D Warner c Soumya b Mustafizur 8, S Smith c Mushfiqur b Taijul 16, P Handscomb not out 16, G Maxwell not out 25. Extras: 0. Total (for 3 wickets in 15.3 overs) 87. Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-44, 3-48. Bowling: Mustafizur 5-1-16-1, Shakib 6-1-35-1, Taijul 4- 0-26-1, Nasir Hossain 0.3-0-10-0. � AFP