Dhaka: Bangladesh could have been in the driving seat against Australia in the first Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium had they not dropped a couple of catches on Day-3 on Tuesday.

At the end of the 3rd day's play, the Tigers found them in a tight situation as the visitors will need 156 runs more with eight wickets in their hands to win the match. They finished the 3rd day on 109 for 2 in 30 overs.

Soumya Sarker missed a catch from David Warner at slip off Shakib Al Hasan at 7.3 overs when the Aussie opener was at 14.

Shakib pushed the ball through short and outside off which slashed a thick outside edge and flied to the right of Soumya who could not close his hands around the ball.

Imrul Kayes also dropped a catch from Australia captain Steven Smith at short mid-on.

Earlier, Bangladesh set a target of 265 for Australia in the first Test of the two-match series. Australia scored 217 runs in their 1st innings.

David Warner was unbeaten scoring 75 off 96 runs, including 11 boundaries and one over boundary.

Warner shared an unbeaten partnership of 81 in 20.4 overs with skipper Steve Smith (25 off 58b; 1x4).

Mehedi Hasan Miraz made the first breakthrough for Bangladesh for the third successive day as he trapped lbw Matt Renshaw following haul of David Warner and skipper Steve Smith in the first innings for the 1st breakthrough on the 2nd and the 1st day respectively.

Matt Renshaw was out for 5 off 20 balls at 27/1 in 8.2 overs, while Usman Khawaja (1 off 6b) was caught by Taijul Islam off Shakib Al Hasan at 28/2 in 9.2 overs.

On the 3rd day, Bangladesh played 57.3 overs for 176 runs for the cost of nine wickets for 221 in 79.3 overs resuming the innings with overnight score of 45/1 in 22 overs.

Miraz who was caught by Usman Khawaja off Nathan Lyon was the last double digit scorer on the day for Bangladesh with 26 off 35 balls, including four boundaries, while number-10 batsman Shafiul Islam added nine runs.

Bangladesh's dashing opener Tamim Iqbal hammered a fifty of 78 runs off 155 balls, including eight boundaries, in the 2nd innings after another fifty of 71 runs in the 1st innings in the Tigers' 260 runs on Day-1.

Bangladesh faced a gradual batting collapse after a strong batting show till the lunch on the 3rd day as they lost their four experienced and one young batsman - opener Tamim Iqbal, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, all-rounder Nasir Hossain and Sabbir Rahman - within a span of 18.4 overs to add 51 runs more after the lunch.

Sabbir (22 off 36b; 2x4; 1x6) left the crease at 186/8 in 69.1 overs after Nasir's departure with duck on the same score in 68.4 overs.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim who scored 41off 114 balls, including a four and a six, left the crease falling victim of run out after sharing a 43-run partnership with Sabbir in the 6th stand to carry the team total to 186/6 in 67.5 overs starting from 143/5 in 55.5 overs.

Shakib who hit a fifty of 84 runs in the 1st innings on Sunday came after the departure of Tamim, but was caught by Pat Cummins off Nathan Lyon in the innings 56th over scoring just 5 runs off 11 balls with a boundary when the team collection was 143 for 5 in 55.5 overs.

Tamim was out soon after the lunch leaving his side with a lead of 178 when the team collection was at 135 for 4 in 52.1 overs.

Tamim was caught behind by Matthew Wade off Pat Cummins bowling after a decision review appealed by Aussies skipper Steve Smith.

To hit back-to-back half century in the 1st Test, Tamim faced 85 balls on the day to add 48 runs more with his overnight collection of 30 runs.

Tamim shared 68 runs in 18.3 overs with skipper Mushfiqur in the 4th pair starting from 67/3 in 33.2 overs.

The Tigers extended their lead to 176 from 88 before the lunch break while Tamim was on batting with 76 off 150 balls, including eight boundaries.

Nathan Lyon captured six wickets for 82 runs in 34.3 overs in the 2nd innings while Ashton Agar bagged two for 55 runs in 20.5 overs. Pat Cummins took one for 1 for 38 runs in 14 overs.

Brief score:

Bangladesh 1st innings: 260/10 in 78.5 overs; Shakib Al Hasan 84, Tamim Iqbal 71, Nasir Hossain 23, Ashton Agar 3/46, Pat Cummins 3/63, Nathan Lyon 3/79.

Bangladesh 2nd innings: 221/10 in 79.3 overs (overnight 45/1 in 22 overs); Tamim Iqbal 76, Mushfiqur Rahim 41, Sabbir Rahman 22, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 26, Soumya Sarkar 15, Nathan Lyon 6/82, Ashton Agar 2/55, Pat Cummins1/38.

Australia 1st Innings: 217/10 in 74.5 overs; Matt Renshaw 45, Ashton Agar 41*, Peter Handscomb 33, Pat Cummins 25, Glenn Maxwell 23, Shakib Al Hasan 5/68, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 3/62,Taijul Islam 1/32.

Australia 2nd Innings: 109/2 in 30th over, at stumps; David Warner 75* Steve Smith 25*, Shakib Al Hasan 1/ 28, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 1/51.