Bangladesh were struggling to avoid an innings defeat on Wednesday after an astonishing double-century from Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie in the second and final Test.
At close on day four, Bangladesh were 195-4 and needing 189 more runs to make Australia bat again after conceding a 384-run first-innings lead.
Shahriar Nafees (75) and Aftab Ahmed (one) were the not-out batsmen. Gillespie, whose previous Test best was 54 not out, ended on 201 not out - a record for a night-watchman - as Australia declared on 581-4 in reply to Bangladesh's first-innings 197.
The lower-order batsman, who had never got to three figures even in a first-class game, gave himself a wonderful present on his 31st birthday. Coming in at number three towards the end of the first day, Gillespie batted through two rain-hit days to surprise everyone including himself.
Gillespie and Michael Hussey, who also achieved a career-best innings, allowed the tourists to declare 25 minutes after lunch. They had plundered runs at will in the morning session after resuming on 364-3.
Gillespie, who had completed his maiden ton on Tuesday, batted on with ease and his fourth-wicket stand with Hussey (182) was worth 320. Gillespie's innings lasted 425 balls and included 26 fours and two sixes.
He got past 200 with a glance off left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique and went back to the pavilion with his hands raised and nodding his head in disbelief, as captain Ricky Ponting made the declaration.
The previous highest mark for a night-watchman Tony Mann's 105 for Australia against India at Perth in 1977.
Hussey got to his fourth century in 11 Tests with a drive through covers off paceman Shahadat Hossain and went on to surpass his previous highest of 137 against the West Indies in Hobart last year.
Hussey, 93 overnight, smashed 21 fours and a six off 203 balls before holing out to Hossain at the square-leg fence off part-time seamer Ahmed in a bid to step up the run-rate.
In reply, Bangladesh lost opener Javed Omar (19) early as Brett Lee trapped him leg-before.
Captain Habibul Bashar (49), who survived an easy chance on zero when Shane Warne dropped him at slip off Gillespie, was dismissed by leg-spinner Warne himself as Matthew Hayden caught him at the same position.
Warne also dismissed Rajin Saleh (five) soon after, caught by Ponting at silly-point, and then bowled Mohammad Ashraful (29) round the legs for his third scalp. But first-match centurion Nafees continued his fine form and had so far hit nine fours off 166 balls during his second half-century in six matches.
BANGLADESH (1st innings): 197 (Rajin Saleh 71, Khaled Mashud 34 not out, Gillespie 3-11, Warne 3-47, MacGill 3-68):
AUSTRALIA (1st innings - overnight 364-3):
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M. Hayden c sub (Kapali) b Rafique 29
P. Jacques c Nafees b Rafique 66
J. Gillespie not out 201
R. Ponting run out 52
M. Hussey c Hossain b Ahmed 182
M. Clarke not out 23
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EXTRAS: (B-10, LB-10, W-5, NB-3) 28
TOTAL: (for four wickets dec) 581
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FALL OF WICKETS: 1-67, 2-120, 3-210, 4-530
BOWLING: Mortaza 26-3-114-0, Hossain 33-3-143-0, Rafique 48.3-10-145-2, Razzak 30-5-99-0, Saleh 8-0-32-0, Ahmed 7-1-28-1
OVERS: 152.3
BANGLADESH (2nd innings):
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Javed Omar lbw b Lee 19
Shahriar Nafees not out 75
Habibul Bashar c Hayden b Warne 49
Rajin Saleh c Ponting b Warne 5
Mohammad Ashraful b Warne 29
Aftab Ahmed not out 1
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EXTRAS: (B-7, LB-5, W-1, NB-4) 17
TOTAL: (for four wickets) 195
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