Matt Renshaw made a career-best 190 and added a Durban-record 134 for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon as Australia reached 390 all out on day two, before South Africa closed on 27 for 1, still 363 runs behind, when bad light ended play.
Durban, South Africa: Australia began the second day at 187 for 6 and with a problem. Their top order had been taken apart on Friday, and the match was drifting. By tea, it belonged to Matt Renshaw, who batted through two sessions and was dismissed only after he had added another 144 runs to his overnight 46.
Renshaw takes the long road
Renshaw had resumed on 46 alongside Pat Cummins, and their seventh-wicket stand eventually reached 86 before Cummins, on 43, was caught at second slip by Aiden Markram off Wiaan Mulder. Mitchell Starc, bowled by Mulder for 6, followed. At 229 for 8, Australia had a total in view and not much more.
Renshaw reached his hundred from 204 balls, his second in Test cricket and his first since 2017, and went on to 150 from 311. He was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Anrich Nortje and needed treatment, then carried on.
Lyon stays, a record falls
Nathan Lyon was the partner who turned a recovery into a position of strength. He and Renshaw added 134 for the ninth wicket, the highest stand for that wicket in Durban, before Marco Jansen trapped Lyon lbw for 27 off 92 balls. Australia were then 363 for 9.
Renshaw added 27 more with Josh Hazlewood before Simon Harmer had him caught by Markram at slip, just after tea. His 190 came from 397 balls and included 21 fours and a six. It is the highest score by a number five batter in a Test at Kingsmead, and it left him ten short of a double century. Australia were all out for 390 in 137.2 overs.
Mulder leads the bowling, Rickelton falls early
Mulder finished with 4 for 68 from 27 overs, Jansen took 3 for 68 from 31 and Nortje 2 for 88. Harmer, who took Renshaw’s wicket, ended with 1 for 68.
South Africa’s reply began with an early blow. Ryan Rickelton was out for a three-ball duck, caught at third slip by Beau Webster off Hazlewood. Markram, unbeaten on 15 from 27 balls, and David Bedingham, unbeaten on 12 from 22, took South Africa to 27 for 1 after 8.4 overs before bad light stopped play. Play resumes at 09:30 on day three.
A match turned
The picture has changed since South Africa’s seamers pinned Australia to 187 for 6 on day one. Renshaw, recalled to the side after Australia dropped Jake Weatherald for the Mackay Test in August, made the visitors’ total look far more comfortable. South Africa now start their reply 363 behind with nine first-innings wickets in hand.
Day 2 stumps: Australia 390 all out in 137.2 overs (Matt Renshaw 190, Pat Cummins 43, Marnus Labuschagne 37; Wiaan Mulder 4/68, Marco Jansen 3/68, Anrich Nortje 2/88, Simon Harmer 1/68). South Africa 27/1 in 8.4 overs (Aiden Markram 15*, David Bedingham 12*), trailing by 363.
Match: First Test of three, Kingsmead, Durban, Saturday 10 October 2026.
