A monumental 190 from Matt Renshaw completely flipped the momentum in Durban, transforming Australia’s early troubles into a commanding first-innings total of 390 before bad light brought another premature end to Day 2 at Kingsmead.
Faced with a tricky late-afternoon examination following 137.2 overs in the field, South Africa reached 27/1 in 8.4 overs when the gloom rolled in at 4:26 pm. Aiden Markram (15* off 27) and David Bedingham (12* off 20) safely negotiated the closing stages, but the early loss of Ryan Rickelton for a duck left the Proteas trailing by 363 runs heading into Day 3.
Renshaw's Marathon Deflates the Proteas
Resuming on 187/6 after rain and bad light cut short Day 1, Australia looked vulnerable to an early blowout. However, Renshaw continued to lead a remarkable rearguard. Bringing up his fourth Test half-century early in the morning session, the 28-year-old Queenslander showed immense poise, technical discipline, and fluent sweep shots against spin to anchor the visitors.
Pat Cummins set the tone for the lower order, surviving testing short-pitch bowling from Anrich Nortje to compile a patient 43 in an 86-run seventh-wicket stand. Wiaan Mulder eventually broke through, getting Cummins to edge a good-length ball to second slip before clean-bowling Mitchell Starc (11) with a beauty that pegged back off-stump with the second new ball.
Yet any South African hopes of wrapping up the tail were crushed by a record-breaking ninth-wicket partnership between Renshaw and Nathan Lyon. The pair frustrated the Proteas for nearly the entire afternoon session, putting on 134 runs, a new ninth-wicket record for Australia against South Africa. Lyon faced 90 deliveries for his gritty 39, while Renshaw absorbed hostile bouncers, including a 143 kph blow to the helmet from Nortje, to march past 150.
Renshaw was finally dismissed two balls into the final session for 190 (397 balls, 18 fours), caught at slip off Simon Harmer to miss out on a deserved maiden double century. Harmer and Keshav Maharaj toiled through 48.2 overs for just one wicket as Renshaw expertly neutralized the turn, while Mulder (4-68), Marco Jansen (3-68), and Nortje (2-60) carried the bulk of the workload.
Hazlewood Strikes Early Before Bad Light Intervenes
South Africa’s reply got off to the worst possible start when Ryan Rickelton chased a full, wide delivery from Josh Hazlewood in the second over, edging straight to Beau Webster at third slip for a three-ball duck with just two runs on the board.
Markram and Bedingham, promoted to number three for the first time in his Test career, counter-attacked with crisp boundary strokes. Markram produced textbook cover and straight drives off Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood, surviving a tight Australian review for lbw courtesy of an inside edge. Bedingham found his range with an authoritative straight drive off Starc, guiding South Africa to 27/1 before umpires took the players off the field.
South Africa now face a stern test of character and discipline on Day 3. With the Kingsmead pitch still offering true bounce but beginning to show signs of turn, captain Temba Bavuma and the Proteas middle order will need a collective batting masterclass to bridge the 363-run deficit against Australia’s elite four-man bowling attack.
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