Captain Khaled Mahmud and Masrafe Mortaza each took three wickets as Bangladesh bowled a Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI out for 189 in Darwin.

Michael Clarke top-scored for the invitation side, hitting 79 off 152 balls on a slow wicket and sluggish outfield at Marrara Oval, which hosts its first Test from next Friday.

it's going to be difficult to get those runs Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore

The 22-year-old, who has five one-day international caps and was marked as a future Test player when he was called up as an injury replacement for the recent West Indies tour.

The tourists kept a tight lid on the scoring in the morning session, taking three wickets as the Chief Minister's side struggled 42-3 at lunch.

Clarke attempted to quicken the pace in a 51-run partnership wicket Darren Treumer to the crease before the wicket-keeper fell to leg-spinner Mohammad Ashraful.

The home captain followed five overs later, caught by Ashraful off pace man Mortaza in the first over with the second new ball.

And Bangladesh made light work of the tail, claiming the final four wickets for 14 runs, medium-pacer Mahmud taking 3-43 and Mortaza 3-28.

"They bowled very well. They have got a very consistent bowling attack and I thought they bowled to their strengths," said Clarke, who had earlier won the toss and elected to bat.

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore was pleased with the pressure his team applied during the morning.

"It's hard to continue with that (pressure) but to get them out for 189 is good," said Whatmore, a former Australia Test player.

"[But] it's going to be difficult to get those runs."