Matt Renshaw’s 190 Fuels Australia to 390

Nathan Lyon and Matt Renshaw shared a 134‑run ninth‑wicket partnership•AFP/Getty Images

Combining discipline with the ability to shift gears, Renshaw became the first Australian batsman to face 300 balls in a Test innings since Usman Khawaja made 232 against Sri Lanka in Galle in early 2025.

Renshaw has embraced the No. 5 role following Nic Maddinson’s unexpected promotion to opener and Cameron Green’s injury‑related absence. He had occupied that spot only four times during the 2023 India tour, with modest outcomes, though he has found success with Queensland.

After a three‑and‑a‑half‑year hiatus, Renshaw returned to Test cricket as an opener against Bangladesh in August. Although Maddinson’s selection initially did not pay off, Renshaw appeared comfortable in the middle order, handling both pace and spin with confidence.

Having dominated much of the rain‑shortened opening day, South Africa grew frustrated as Renshaw blunted their attack. Seamers Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje claimed nine wickets between them, yet failed to pose a consistent threat on day two.

The spin pair of Harmer and Keshav Maharaj managed only a single wicket from 48.2 overs, with Renshaw largely nullifying their threat, even though the pitch is likely to offer more turn as the match progresses.

The thin crowd in Durban left the match feeling flat, a letdown for Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 sand‑paper saga.

Australia resumed their first innings at 187/6 after only 65.2 overs were possible on the rain‑affected opening day.

Renshaw and Cummins looked to extend their unbeaten 63‑run partnership. Renshaw reached his fourth Test fifty shortly after steering a Nortje delivery to third slip and gully, marking his first half‑century since March 2017.

Nortje, who made a striking impact on day one after a three‑and‑a‑half‑year absence from Test cricket, again unleashed hostile short balls while occasionally attempting to outsmart Cummins with fuller deliveries.

Wiaan Mulder angled the ball away to dismiss Pat Cummins•AFP/Getty Images

Cummins remained composed, capitalising on an occasional overpitched ball with a crisp square drive to the boundary. He was eyeing his fourth Test fifty — his first since January 2024 — before edging a good‑length Mulder delivery to second slip on 43.

Renshaw displayed his improved spin play, reverse‑sweeping Maharaj effectively to keep the scoreboard moving.

Similar to Cummins, Mitchell Starc focused on defence but got a fortunate break when he nicked Harmer past Aiden Markram at first slip, sending the ball to the boundary.

South Africa wasted no time taking the second new ball, and Mulder made the most of it by clean‑bowling Starc with a searing delivery that hit middle stump before ricocheting onto off‑stump.

Nevertheless, Renshaw kept South Africa in check and accelerated in the latter part of the extended session.

After lunch, Renshaw retained the bulk of the strike while South African captain Temba Bavuma paired Maharaj with Harmer. Play stalled until Nortje’s return, when he unleashed a 143 kph thunderbolt that struck Renshaw on the helmet grille.

Renshaw responded with an immediate thumbs‑up, resumed his relentless effort after medical checks, and brought up his 150 with a reverse sweep off Maharaj — a fitting reward for his command of the shot throughout the innings.

Lyon seemed set to occupy the crease for the whole second session before being plumb‑lbw to a full ball from Jansen, who earned reward for a hostile spell prior to tea.

Although the session was stretched, Josh Hazlewood stood firm, adding further frustration for South Africa.

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