Bangladesh have Australia on the ropes

FATULLAH, Bangladesh, Apr 10 (Reuters) Bangladesh seized control of the first test against the might of Australia today, removing six wickets for 145 by the close of play on the second day.

Australia, 282 behind Bangladesh's first innings 427, need 83 to avoid following on with all their recognised batsmen except Adam Gilchrist, unbeaten on 51, back in the pavilion.

It was an amazing performance by Bangladesh against the top-ranked and in-form Australians though they did spring a shock on them last year, beating the world champions by five-wickets in a one-day match in Cardiff, Wales.

It could have been worse on Monday for Australia who at one stage slumped to 93-6 but Gilchrist, helped by Brett Lee (13 not out), managed to put on an unbeaten 52 together.

Spinner Enamul Haque jr was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, capturing two for 18 off nine overs.

Earlier, Australian leg spinner Stuart MacGill produced career-best figures of eight for 108 to help polish off the Bangladesh innings after they had reached lunch on 413-6.

However, the home side will have been more than delighted with their second-highest total in a test innings, inspired by a maiden test century from Shahriar Nafees (138) and valuable knocks from skipper Habibul Bashar (76) and Rajin Saleh (67) Australia's Shane Warne did not take to the field on Monday morning, the leg spinner complained of a sore shoulder the previous day after bowling 20 overs for 112 runs and no wickets.

The second of the two-match series starts in Chittagong on Sunday.

Australia are fresh from a 3-0 series win over South Africa, but Bangladesh have won only one of their previous 42 tests since earning test status in 2000.

That victory was against a depleted Zimbabwe and they have suffered 37 losses and gained just four draws.

Bangladesh suffered innings defeats in their only two previous tests they have played against Australia in 2003, the first of which lasted only 2-1/2 days.

REUTERS PDS PM1911