Yes, they are the underdogs and cannot conceivably win but after a fighting day in the field, they have vowed to attempt to bat out a full day against the might of the Australians on the third day of the historic first Test between the two nations.

Starting at 121-2, Bangladesh held Australia to six hours and 118 overs before the declaration at 407-7 a feat which was clearly unexpected by the Australians, with century-makers Steve Waugh and Darren Lehmann singling out Bangladeshi fielding and bowling for praise.

And a defiant 70-1 in 65 minutes opening the Tigers' second innings illustrated coach Dav Whatmore's contention all along Bangladeshi batting will only improve if his players start believing in themselves and stop foolishly throwing their wickets aside.

"We were very pleased with the effort shown over 118 overs," he said.

"I reckon maybe against other opposition in the end it was enough to for us to probably bowl them out, but this is a very good side and we've seen evidence of how good they are.

"I reckon they bowled a great game."

Aided by a slow and low pitch and sharp ground fielding, the Tigers held the Australians down especially in the first hours of the day. The star bowler of the day, Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza, who finished with 3-74 off 23 overs, was particularly effective. At one stage, before Waugh and Gilchrist opened up towards the end of the Australian innings, Mortuza's figures of 3-34 off 17 overs would have graced any opponent playing against Australia. His scalps included the key wicket of Lehmann, brilliantly taken in a running catch by Javed Omar at backward point, and Martin Love for a golden duck.

Tapas Baishya was unlucky to be left with only 1-74, with single wickets also being taken by Manjurul Islam and Alok Kapali.

Brett Lee, threatening at 23 runs in 39 balls, was fabulously run out by a Tapas throw from the deep.

Pushed into bat after the late declaration as Waugh scored his century Bangladesh were left with the compulsory final 15 overs to face. A disappointing lbw for Javed from Glenn McGrath with the score on eight threatened a collapse similar to the first day rout.

However, Hannan Sarkar and Habibul Bashar took charge from the moment the latter took the crease. With growing confidence, they batted out till stumps with a rapid fire 70 in 60 minutes the fasting scoring burst of the entire Bangladeshi effort on the current tour. Hannan ended the day 29 not out with two 4s and three 3s. Bashar was unbeaten on 26 runs and one four.

For the Australians it was a game of setting records. For Steve Waugh, this is his record breaking 50th Test captaincy, and his 100 not out meant he has now scored a century against all nine Test teams. On the first day, opening bowlers McGrath and Gillespie broke a 47-year-old Australian record for the number of dismissals as an opening bowling pair.

Despite his century, Waugh, too, was full of praise for the Tigers.

"We had to work hard for the first 150 runs. Bangladesh played well and stuck to their plans well and had plenty of energy in the field, so we've got to give Bangladesh a bit of credit they bowled and fielded very well," he said.

And for once, Whatmore seems to feel his team is going along the right path.

"We played positive cricket and that's what we want to do every day," he said.

"This isn't about winning or losing for us, this is all about being able to improve. After (Friday's) performance we were really behind the eight-ball. You can't win a game in a session, but you can sure go a long way to losing it. That first session when we were 6-60 odd it's very difficult to come back from that.

'There's one or two things to work on as batsmen, and that's to get out there and really compete."

And the chance of batting out a whole day against the Aussies?

"It's a long day tomorrow, and we'll be tested greatly."