First Test, Durban (Day Five vs Day Four)
Australia 390 and 314-6 Dec: Renshaw 82; Northje 2-56, Maharaj 2-56
South Africa 284 and 102-4: Bedingham 46, Markram 45*; Hazlewood 2-20
South Africa need 319 runs to win
Account card
Australia are set to end South Africa’s unbeaten run under captain Temba Bavuma after a remarkable Test that continued on the fourth day of Matt Renshaw’s series opener in Durban.
Renshaw, in his second game after a three-year absence, followed up with 190 with 89 in the first innings to allow Australia to declare at 314-6. The 30-year-old then dismissed Bavuma with part-time off-spin late in the day for his first Test wicket.
Captain Pat Cummins followed it up with a perfect set-up from Tristan Stubbs – pushing him back with shorter balls before delivering a full one – leaving South Africa 102-4.
A world record 421 to win, they must fight back to draw the last day with six wickets to spare.
South Africa have 11 wins and one draw under Bavuma’s captaincy, including their run to the 2025 World Test Championship final.
It is the first Test in a South African summer that includes two more against the Australians, two against Bangladesh and three against England at Christmas.
Even the bad light that shortened the first three days did not help South Africa on the fourth evening.