Fatullah, April 12:

Opener Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Pointing hit half centuries on Wednesday to put Australia in sight of victory before suffering a mini-collapse against Bangladesh on the fourth day of their first Test.

Australia require another 95 runs with six wickets remaining to avoid a major upset at the hands Bangladesh.

The visitors will resume on the final day at 212/4 with Ponting on 72 and Adam Gilchrist 6.

Hayden, who hit 72 off 152 balls before being run out by Enamul Haque, produced a 109-run second-wicket partnership with Ponting. Spinner Mohammad Rafique then bowled out Damien Martyn (7), and had Michael Clarke (9) caught behind by Khaled Mashud. Bangladesh’s breakthrough came after lunch when spinner Haque bowled Michael Hussey for 37. Australia cautiously chased its run target and looked comfortable at 114-1 at tea.

Earlier, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie shared five wickets for just 24 runs as Australia dismissed Bangladesh for 148 in its second innings. Resuming at the overnight score of 124-5, Bangladesh lost its last five wickets in the first nine overs of the day. Bangladesh still managed to set a challenging victory target of 307.

Gillespie bowled Mashud for a duck, and went on to dismiss the other overnight batsman, Rajin Saleh, for 33.

Warne trapped Rafique leg before (14) before bowling Mashrafee Bin Mortaza for a duck the following ball. He also removed Haque , raising his tally to three dismissals for 28 runs in the second innings.

Bangladesh opened the match with a massive first innings total of 427, opener Shahriar Nafees smashing his maiden century.

Australia answered with 269 but avoided the embarrassment of the follow on.

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH —1st Innings: 427

AUSTRALIA —1st Innings: 269

BANGLADESH —2nd Innings (Overnight: 124/5)

R Saleh c Hayden b Gilespie 33

K Mashud b Gillespie 0

M Rafique lbw B Warne 14

M Mortaza b Warne 0

S Hossain not out 1

E Haque lbw b Warne 0

Extras: 21 (10b, 7lb, 4nb)

Total: 148

FoW: 1-48, 2-58, 3-66, 4-77, 5-124, 6-128, 7-147, 8-147, 9-147

Australia bowling: Lee 8-0-47-1, Gillespie 11-4-18-3, MacGill 13-4-30-1, Clark 4-2-8-1, Warne 13-4-28-3, Clarke 1-1-0-0

AUSTRALIA —2nd Innings

M Hayden run out 72

M Hussey b Haque 37

R Ponting not out 72

D Martyn b Rafique 7

M Clarke c Mashud b Rafique 9

A Gilchrist not out 6

Extras: 9 (4b, 4lb, 1nb)

Total: 212/4

FoW: 1-64, 2-173, 3-183, 4-205

Bangladesh bowling: Mortaza 13-4-27-0, Hossain 15-5-48-0, Rafique 25-3-68-2, Haque 21-4-61-1