Australia’s Green fends off Tigers’ victory, leaving hosts at 243-7 at lunch

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green scored a defiant half-century to push Australia to 243 for seven at lunch on day four of the series-opener in Darwin on Sunday and ensure Bangladesh will have to chase runs for a landmark victory over the world's top-ranked nation.

Australia lost three wickets in the morning session at Marrara Oval but Green and Mitchell Starc mounted a desperate rearguard to stall the South Asians' push for victory and give Australia a 15-run lead.

Green was 85 not out, with tailender Starc on 14, the pair having produced an unbroken 36-run stand to the lunch-break.

Australia resumed on 161 for four in the morning, still 67 runs in arrears after Bangladesh's underrated batters put 426 on the board on day three.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz took all three wickets in the session, removing wicketkeeper Alex Carey (30), all-rounder Beau Webster (5) and captain Pat Cummins (8).

Bangladesh are playing their first Test series in Australia in 23 years. The second and final Test is in Mackay, Queensland from Aug 22.