Mohini Yadav
Ajit Mohan Yadav
The AUS vs SA Test at Kingsmead, Durban, turned on Matt Renshaw's patient 190 at No. 5 for Australia on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October. At the latest confirmed point on Sunday 11 October, South Africa were 238/8 at tea on day three, still 152 runs behind Australia's 390.
Renshaw turns 124/6 into 390
Australia had been in trouble at 124/6 on the first day, but Renshaw stayed long enough to change the shape of the South Africa vs Australia 1st Test. He finished with 190 from 397 balls and fell in the first over after tea on day two. It was his second Test century, coming nine years and 280 days after his first hundred, a 184 not out against Pakistan in Sydney in January 2017.
The left-hander's hundred arrived off 204 balls. He left the ball, defended when South Africa found the right length and took the single when the field offered it. Once the spinners widened their lines, he used the sweep and reverse-sweep without losing sight of the innings situation.
The opening day had ended with Australia 187/6, Renshaw 46 not out and Pat Cummins 33 not out. Cummins eventually made 43, adding 86 with Renshaw for the seventh wicket. Renshaw and Nathan Lyon (27) then put on 134 for the ninth wicket, taking Australia to 390 all out in 137.2 overs.
Fans checking the AUS vs SA scorecard can see how unusual the recovery was: Australia added 266 runs after losing their sixth wicket. South Africa's Wiaan Mulder took 4/68 and Marco Jansen 3/68, but the rest of the attack could not finish the innings when Australia were still below 250.
Mulder admits South Africa let the pressure drift
Mulder's figures reflected a strong start, yet his post-day assessment was clear. Speaking after Saturday's play, he said: “His approach from the first four balls of the over to the last two was so different. Maybe that's where we could have been smarter with the field.”
The comment was not a dismissal of Renshaw's skill. South Africa bowled for almost 140 overs, while Renshaw protected Lyon from the strike and kept Australia moving. Cricinfo's report recorded Mulder saying that Renshaw “played what was in front of him” and “played the situation beautifully”.
Renshaw did not simply wait for a mistake; he made South Africa choose between protecting the boundary and keeping him on strike. A spread field created the single he wanted, while a tighter field created gaps for his sweeps and nudges. By the time Simon Harmer removed him, Australia's lower order had turned a bad position into a formidable first-innings total.
South Africa lose ground after a brief start
South Africa began their reply at 27/1 after bad light ended play on day two, with Ryan Rickelton out for a duck and Aiden Markram unbeaten on 15. Markram moved to 37 on Sunday before Mitchell Starc found his edge. David Bedingham made 49, but Steven Smith took a sharp catch off Pat Cummins to end that resistance.
By tea, the hosts were 238/8 from 67 overs. Wiaan Mulder made 30, Marco Jansen 26 and Kyle Verreynne 13, while Simon Harmer was unbeaten on 17 and Keshav Maharaj on 23. Cummins had 3/54, Josh Hazlewood 2/41, Nathan Lyon 2/50 and Starc 1/55 at that point. South Africa had not been bowled out: two wickets remained, and the match was still in progress.
The 152-run deficit is significant, but it is not a result. South Africa's remaining batters still had a chance to reduce the gap.
What the AUS vs SA Test says about Australia
Renshaw's No. 5 innings gives Australia an answer and opens another. He has shown that he can absorb a new-ball spell in the middle order, manage the tail and score heavily once the ball softens. The cricket hub will carry the wider Australia tour schedule and match coverage as the Test continues.
The final batting order remains unsettled. Cameron Green's return would affect the middle order, while Nic Maddinson's first-ball duck leaves the opening combination under scrutiny. At Kingsmead on Sunday evening IST: Renshaw's second Test hundred rescued Australia, South Africa were 238/8 at tea, and the first Test remained open.
For the latest score as play moves on, use FairPlay's live cricket coverage; the tea score is not a final result.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo: South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test match report · ESPNcricinfo: 'It felt a bit easy' — Did South Africa let it drift against Renshaw? · ESPN: South Africa vs Australia 1st Test scorecard · BBC Sport: Middlesbrough-born Renshaw's epic 190 lifts Australia
This piece was written by the FairPlay Editorial Desk with AI assistance, using the published sources above. It was reviewed by Mohini Yadav and Ajit Mohan Yadav of the FairPlay editorial team before publication. To report an error, see our Editorial Policy.
