Matt Renshaw's career-best 190 puts Australia in command in Durban
Australia were bowled out for 390 on day two of the first Test at Kingsmead, with Renshaw batting 397 balls for his 190. South Africa finished the day at 27 for one, trailing by 363 runs.
Australia recover on day two
Australia were 124 for six at one stage on the first day and 187 for six when bad light ended play early on Friday. Renshaw resumed on 46 not out on Saturday alongside captain Pat Cummins, and the pair took their partnership to 86 before Cummins was out for 43, poking the old ball to slip. Temba Bavuma spread his field for Renshaw, who defended or added a few runs early in each over and turned over the strike from the fourth or fifth ball. Australia were all out for 390, with Wiaan Mulder taking 4 for 68.
- Australia reduced to 124 for six
- Australia at 187 for six when bad light ended play early
- Cummins out for 43 after a partnership of 86 with Renshaw
- Renshaw out for 190 on the second ball after the interval
- Australia all out for 390, South Africa 27 for one
Renshaw's innings
Renshaw made 190 from 397 balls, a career-best and his first Test century in more than nine years, after his previous best of 184 against Pakistan in Sydney in 2016/17. He attacked only 14.2% of deliveries while making his first 50 runs, the lowest figure among Australia's top order, and he left well through day two, scoring mostly square or behind the wicket. His ninth-wicket stand of 134 with Nathan Lyon was described by AFP as a record for Australia in Tests against South Africa. Lyon faced 24 balls without scoring in the 16 overs either side of lunch, and when Renshaw failed to farm the strike, Anrich Nortje came back on to target Lyon. Renshaw added a further 21 with Josh Hazlewood at number 11 before he was out soon after tea. He edged off-spinner Simon Harmer to slip off the second ball after the interval.
- Matt Renshaw
- 190 runs
- Pat Cummins
- 43 runs
- Nathan Lyon
- 27 runs
- Nic Maddinson
- 0 runs
A changed batting order
Renshaw had moved down to No 5 after Nic Maddinson was sent out to open alongside Travis Head. Maddinson, 34, was not in Australia's original squad and joined the tour as a replacement for the injured Cameron Green, after Cooper Connolly suffered cold symptoms the day before the Test. He faced 33 balls from Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder without scoring and walked back after about 45 minutes. Maddinson had returned to cricket after treatment for testicular cancer, with his last chemotherapy a little over a year earlier. His fourth Test cap came 10 years after his last Test appearance, and it followed three unsuccessful appearances against South Africa and Pakistan. Renshaw had been recalled for Australia's second Test against Bangladesh in August, after Jake Weatherald was dropped.
What comes next
South Africa finished day two at 27 for one, with Ryan Rickelton out to Josh Hazlewood for a three-ball duck. Aiden Markram was 15 not out and David Bedingham was 12 not out at the close. The first Test is scheduled for five days, and the three-Test series is Australia's busiest stretch of Test cricket this year.
