‘Hats off to Tamim and Shakib’

Nathan Lyon was fulsome in his praise for the partnership of the day, a 155-run stand that could possibly separate the sides once the first Test is done and dusted.

From 10 for three on a difficult pitch, that had enough early-morning moisture to encourage Australia's pace attack while offering turn at pace for the spinners, opener Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan carried the team to 165 without further loss, and they did so in just 41.3 overs, both striking half-centuries in their 50th Tests.

"Tamim and Shakib took the game on," said Lyon after the day's play. "They were brave in their batting and played some incredible shots. Hats off to them."

Tamim was the slower of the two, especially in the first session, but even then he attacked Lyon -- the main threat as the first-choice off-spinner on a spinning wicket. He hit Lyon for a spectacular down-the-wicket six over extra cover in the spinner's first over and then in the afternoon session, he hit Lyon for another six in the same area before a one-bounce four over mid-on off the very next ball.

"They were obviously uncomfortable trying to defend against me, so they took me on," Lyon offered as explanation.

But while he said the pitch did not have any demons, he said it was an interesting one.

"It looks interesting. There was a lot of spin on Day One, but you expect that in the subcontinent. It';s certainly slower than we are used to, but the best teams adjust to these conditions."

Even though Australia were reduced to 18 for three in reply to 260, Lyon did not think Bangladesh were running away with the game. "I would say it's in the balance; the momentum is with Bangladesh and it's not ideal losing three wickets.

"But we have two very good batters out there – one is number one in the world [Steven Smith] and we have a very good young player in Matt Renshaw. We need to bat well, bat in partnerships and bat deep. I have faith in our batters to come out and do that tomorrow."