South Africa’s pacemen reduced Australia to 187 for 6 on a first day in Durban cut short by bad light, with Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Anrich Nortje taking two wickets each. Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins held firm in an unbeaten 63-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Durban, South Africa: Australia won the toss, chose to bat at Kingsmead and spent most of the day trying to find their footing. South Africa’s seamers gave them very little to work with, and by the time the umpires took the players off, the visitors were clinging on at 187 for 6.
Early breakthroughs
The damage began at the top. Travis Head edged a Mulder delivery behind for 9, and Nic Maddinson, back in Test cricket for the first time in a decade, was bowled by Jansen for a duck after facing 33 balls. Australia were 24 for 2 after 10 overs.
Labuschagne and Smith fall, Australia wobble
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith steadied the innings with a stand of 60 for the third wicket. Labuschagne made 37 off 58 balls before Mulder trapped him lbw, a decision that stood on review as umpire’s call. Smith made 25 before Jansen had him caught at gully, leaving Australia 84 for 4.
Nortje struck next. He removed Alex Carey for 14, caught at second slip, and Beau Webster for 4, caught behind, in the same over. Australia were 124 for 6.
Renshaw and Cummins hold on
That left Renshaw and captain Cummins to rebuild. They added an unbeaten 63 for the seventh wicket, the highest stand of the innings. Renshaw finished on 46 and will resume four runs short of a half-century, with Cummins on 33.
Bad light ends the day early
Bad light stopped play after 65.2 overs, with 24.4 overs lost to the conditions. Jansen finished with 2 for 35, Mulder 2 for 31 and Nortje 2 for 40. Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood are still to bat, and South Africa have not yet faced a ball in the three-Test series.
Day 1 stumps: Australia 187/6 (65.2 overs; Matt Renshaw 46*, Pat Cummins 33*; Marco Jansen 2-35, Wiaan Mulder 2-31, Anrich Nortje 2-40)
Status: First Test of three, Kingsmead, Durban. Australia won the toss and batted. 24.4 overs lost to bad light.
