Renshaw's century resurrects Australia after Mulder's four

Matt Renshaw produced a superb second Test century and lifted Australia to what appears to be a respectable first innings total against South Africa in the opening Test at Durban.

Australia had their backs to the wall at 124 for 6 in familiar batting woes before Renshaw rescued the innings with his 218-ball effort. His only other century was against Pakistan at the SCG in January 2017 when he made 184.

It's been a tough journey since but Renshaw might have resurrected his Test career after providing a major tonic for Australia's reshuffled batting-order.

Australia reached lunch on day two at 277 for 8 with Renshaw unbeaten on 102 and Nathan Lyon digging in to be 7 not out.

Renshaw had good support from a determined lower-order in front of another sparse crowd in Durban, with the atmosphere rather subdued for Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 sandpaper scandal.

Renshaw has relished moving down to No.5 after Nic Maddinson's surprise selection as an opener along with Cameron Green missing the match through injury. He had only filled the position four times previously during the 2023 tour of India with modest results.

Renshaw had returned to Test cricket after three-and-a-half years as an opener against Bangladesh in August. While Maddinson's selection has initially backfired, Renshaw looked at ease in the middle-order and equally untroubled against the seamers and spinners.

Having dominated much of the shortened first day, South Africa was left frustrated with seamer Wiaan Mulder toiling manfully and rewarded for his ability to conjure swing on a Kingsmead surface offering bounce and movement.

Australia resumed their first innings on 187 for 6 after just 65.2 overs were bowled on a truncated opening day due to bad light.

Renshaw and skipper Pat Cummins aimed to build on their unbeaten 63-run partnership. It did not take Renshaw long to reach his fourth Test half-century after edging Anrich Nortje through third slip and gully as he celebrated the milestone for the first time since March 2017.

Nortje, who played a starring role on day one after a three-and-a-half year exile from Test cricket, once again unfurled vicious short deliveries but occasionally tried to outfox Cummins by pitching up.

A focused Cummins was unfazed and pounced on a rare overpitched delivery with a beautiful square drive to the boundary. He had a fourth Test half-century in his sights - first since January 2024 - until on 43 he edged a good length delivery from Mulder to second slip.

Renshaw showcased his much improved play against spin, reverse sweeping Maharaj with good effect to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Much like Cummins, Mitchell Starc was intent on solid defence but did have a slice of luck when he edged Harmer through the hands of Aiden Markram at first slip as the ball flew to the boundary.

South Africa had no hesitation in taking the second new ball and Mulder capitalised when he clean bowled Starc with a cracker of a delivery that pitched on middle before crashing into the off-stump.

But Renshaw kept South Africa at bay and put the foot down in the backend of the elongated session. He counter-attacked Nortje with a couple of boundaries through the off-side to lift Australia past 250 - a total that for much of the innings seemed beyond them.

Renshaw was unstoppable as he reached a deserved ton 10 minutes before lunch.