lyon roars in Australia's series-levelling win

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Australia off-spinner Nathan lyon returned a career best 13-154 on Thursday as his team completed a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second test to level the series.

lyon followed up his 7-94 with 6-60 in the second innings to wrap up Bangladesh's innings for 157 on the fourth day of the match.

"He is magnificent, probably more the first innings than the second innings," Australia captain Steven Smith said. "The first innings, the wicket really wasn't offering a great deal. I thought the way he just hit that right area, particularly with the new ball, skidding it on and hitting a few guys in front. That was the perfect way to bowl. I'm really proud of him. It was nice to end with a 1-1 draw."

This was the first test series between the two sides since 2006. Australia postponed the tour twice over security reasons.

Australia lost three wickets for 48 but the victory was never out of the sight. Glen Maxwell ended the match with a consecutive cover-drive four and slog-swept six over mid-wicket as Australia brought up the victory in only 15.3 overs.

Maxwell was unbeaten on 25 off 17 with two fours and as many sixes with Peter Handscomb on 16. Opener Matt Renshaw was out on 22.

Fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, left-arm spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam picked up one wicket apiece for Bangladesh.

lyon helped Australia bowl Bangladesh out just after the tea break. left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe (2-49) and fast bowler Pat Cummins (2-27) complemented the effort of lyon, who now has 22 wickets in the two-test series, second to Sri lanka bowler Rangana Herath's 23.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was the highest scorer for Bangladesh with 31. Mominul Haque made 29 and Sabbir Rahman added 24.

Rahim and Rahman combined for 54 runs for the sixth wicket before lyon left them at 43-5. As the partnership appeared to grow with confidence, Cummins took the wicket of Sabbir, who played an injudicious shot to be stumped.

Sabbir hit two boundaries in his 59-ball knock. The real blow came when Rahim fended a delivery from Cummins to get a healthy edge. Rahim faced 103 balls and hit just one boundary.

lyon then completed his second five-for of the test and third straight, dismissing Hauqe for 29. Hauqe tried a sweep shot against the turn and top-edged to Cummins at deep backward square. O'Keefe then joined lyon in cleaning up Bangladesh's tail to give Australia a small target to chase. lyon, however, became the second Australian off-spinner to collect two 10-wicket hauls in his career after Hugh Trumble, who reached that milestone in 1902 with back-to-back 10-wicket totals in that year's Ashes series.

lyon has claimed 22 wickets in the series and surpassed JJ Ferris' mark from the two-test 1887 Ashes series, when Ferris picked up 18 wickets. 

Daily Pioneer
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