Hasan Mahmud takes 6-55 as Bangladesh bowls out Australia for 198 in 1st cricket test

DARWIN, Australia (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 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.

The 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 allrounders 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.

Head was out in Hasan's next over, chopping on a delivery that was bowled from around the wicket as Australia slipped to 52-2.

Ebadot had Marnus Labuschagne (1) caught by Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and could have had the wicket of Smith but for a dropped chance at third slip.

Allrounder Green (13) was out immediately before lunch as Bangladesh took a full toll on the opening morning of its first test match in Australia since 2003, restricting the hosts to 74-4.

Ebadot dismissed Alex Carey (19) after lunch and Taskin bowled Webster (12) before Cummins (9) and Starc (1) both nicked off to Hasan before the tea interval.

The wicket of Smith then gave Hasan his third five-wicket haul in test cricket and the Bangladeshi bowler picked up last-man Lyon (7) to end the Australian innings in 53 overs.

The two-test “Top End” series starts a heavy 12-month schedule for the Australians that will feature 20 test matches, including tours to South Africa, India and England.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Bangladesh's Hasan Mahmud bowls to Australia during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Australia's Steve Smith, right, watches the ball after playing a shot against Bangladesh during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Bangladesh's Hasan Mahmud, center, is congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Steve Smith during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Australia's Travis Head bats against Bangladesh during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed bowls to Australia during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Bangladesh's Hasan Mahmud, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Travis Head during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Bangladesh's Ebadot Hossain, left, celebrates the dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne from Australia during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Australia's Travis Head, right, walks off as Bangladesh players celebrates his wicket during their cricket test match in Darwin, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, Joel Embiid had 20 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 123-112 on Thursday night while playing without LeBron James.

James (back) was ruled out earlier Thursday, missing his third game of the season.

Jaylen Brown added 18 points for Philadelphia, which improved to 10-3. The 76ers rebounded from Tuesday’s 123-101 loss to Jayson Tatum and the Celtics in Brown's first game against his former team.

RJ Barrett scored 31 points and Immanuel Quickley added 25 for the short-handed Raptors, who have lost four of five.

Embiid (foot) was upgraded from questionable to available before tipoff. The 76ers got a scare in the first quarter when Embiid crumpled to the court after colliding with Quickley, clutching his right knee. But Philadelphia’s 7-foot center returned later in the period to loud cheers from the home crowd.

The Raptors, playing without Kawhi Leonard (knee) for the 10th straight game and Scottie Barnes (groin) for the fourth consecutive contest, led by as many as 16 points in the opening half.

Philadelphia took control late in the third quarter and entered the final period leading 96-87. The Raptors got within six points on Jamison Battle's 3-pointer with 4:42 left, but the 76ers scored 10 of the next 13 points, capped by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 3-pointer.

Toronto was playing the second game of a back-to-back after blowing a 22-point lead in Wednesday’s 98-93 home defeat to the Celtics.

Raptors: Host the New York Knicks on Sunday.

76ers: Host Indiana on Sunday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey (0) goes up for a shot between Toronto Raptors' Alijah Martin (55) and Jakob Poeltl (19) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey, left, gets past Toronto Raptors' Alijah Martin during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid lies on the court after an injury during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Jaylen Brown, left, goes up for a shot against Toronto Raptors' Collin Murray-Boyles during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey, left, tries to get past Toronto Raptors' Immanuel Quickley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)