Cricket-Record-breaking Renshaw puts Australia on top in Durban

Matt Renshaw struck a career-best 190 to guide Australia to 390 all out on day two of the first test against ‌South Africa at Kingsmead on Saturday, as the home side reached 27 for one in reply before play was ended prematurely by bad light. Aiden Markram (15 not out) and David Bedingham (12 not out) will resume on the third morning for South Africa, ‌who were frustrated by the record-breaking innings of Renshaw.

Ryan Rickelton was the hosts' wicket to fall when he was ‌caught at third slip by Beau Webster for a duck off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood. The day belonged to Renshaw as he shared a record ninth-wicket stand of 134 for Australia against South Africa with Nathan Lyon (27), also the highest partnership for that wicket in Durban.

His score is ⁠the highest ​by a number five batter ⁠in tests at Kingsmead, but he was out soon after tea when he edged spinner Simon Harmer to Markram at slip. Australia were in trouble ⁠early in Renshaw's innings as they slipped to 124 for six on day one.

EARLY TROUBLE But Renshaw flipped the script after putting on 86 ​for the seventh wicket with skipper Pat Cummins (43).

Australia started the second day on 187 for six and frustrated ⁠the home side before Wiaan Mulder (4-68) had Cummins caught by Markram at second slip. Mitchell Starc (6) followed quickly after being bowled by Mulder, and at it ⁠looked ​as though South Africa would run through the lower order.

Lyon was circumspect, however, and Renshaw rotated the strike superbly to make sure he had most of the strike and continued to accumulate runs rather than attack the bowling. Lyon ⁠fell LBW to Marco Jansen (3-68).

Renshaw’s 190 has come off 397 balls, a classic test innings of patience and waiting for ⁠the bad ball. He was struck ⁠in the helmet by speedster Anrich Nortje, but he soon settled again and his second test century came nine years after his first, 185 against Pakistan in 2017.

Renshaw had made ‌single-figure scores in ‌11 of his previous 13 test innings. (Additional reporting by Nick ​Said; Editing by Ed Osmond)