Renshaw's huge ton powers Aussies to dominant spot

South Africa will have to defy history to pull off a first Test comeback after Matthew Renshaw's drought-breaking century flipped Australia's position from dire to dominant on day two in Durban.

Renshaw's first Test ton in almost 10 years pushed Australia up to a total of 390 before Josh Hazlewood snagged a late wicket to see the Proteas finish the day on 1-27.

As light faded quickly after the tea interval, Hazlewood had Rickelton flashing a catch to Beau Webster at third slip but the worsening conditions ended play shortly after at 4:25pm local time.

The day belonged to Renshaw whose marathon innings ended on 190, eclipsing his previous best of 184no, scored at the SCG way back in 2017.  

"I never thought I'd be (back) here," a delighted Renshaw said post-play.

"Once you have a few years out of the team ... You probably think that you're never going to get this opportunity again. It was pretty emotional, pretty special." 

He swept exceptionally, both conventionally and reverse, and made South Africa's two spinners look decidedly unthreatening. The way he left the ball, a skill that hasn't been a huge emphasis for this top order, was notable and even draw praise from the opposition.  

"That's generally been my strength is the leave, and then when the bowlers drifted a bit straighter, I'd pick them off that way," Renshaw said.  

The visitors have the 30-year-old to thank for pushing their score above 350; teams that have scored over that mark in the first innings at Kingsmead have an unbeaten record (nine wins, four draws).

And it was his management of the partnership with Nathan Lyon (27) that thrust all the momentum Australia's way.

When Wiaan Mulder (4-68) clean bowled Mitch Starc early in the day's first session, Australia's changeroom would have been contemplating bowling soon with the score at 8-230.

But Renshaw and Lyon frustrated South Africa as they worked themselves into a groove, with the Queenslander taking control of the situation by farming the strike, not just from the quicks but also the spinners.

And Lyon was a willing ally. For the first time in 184 innings, the 38-year-old lasted for over 60 balls in consecutive knocks after his unbeaten 32 in Mackay in August.

He hung around for 190 minutes, the fourth-longest innings by an Aussie No.10 in history, as the pair added 134 off 286 balls.

The pair batted almost the entire middle session, forming the highest ninth-wicket stand at the venue and Australia's best ninth-wicket stand against South Africa.

After managing his bowlers with good results on day one, Temba Bavuma's captaincy lacked imagination in response to Renshaw smartly managing the strike. With the field spread, the he would turn down singles off the first half of the over before picking off an easy run off the final balls. Lyon had enough temerity to survive his allocated one or two balls, and the process would repeat the following over. It took until the 90-minute mark of the second session before Bavuma took Renshaw's easy singles away by bringing the field up, but only after a request from bowler Keshav Maharaj.  

How the Aussie No.5 was able to manipulate the field and strike was easily weighed heavily on the minds of the South Africans.

"I've been thinking about it myself because bowling to him, it just seemed like he got off strike so easily when he wanted to," Mulder told reporters after play.

"I think his approach was so different in the first four balls to the last two balls, which made it difficult to keep him on strike." 

Renshaw had reached his century moments before the lunch break with a crisp whip off the bowling of Anrich Nortje. Beyond his patient leaving and skilful sweeps, his strokeplay off his pads was top class, consistently hitting gaps whenever the bowlers strayed too straight.

"He played beautifully throughout the the innings," Mulder said. "I think he played what was in front of him and he left well." 

The only moment of concern came when Renshaw was hit on the grilled by a Nortje bouncer. On 131 at the time, he lost sight of the short ball and it crashed into his helmet after grazing his shoulder. He underwent a concussion check and was ok to resume.

The hosts' ability to clean up the tail with Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi (both hamstring injuries) was laid bare as Australia added 266 runs for the final four wickets.

Simon Harmer ended the Proteas' 48 overs of wicketless spin with the wicket of Renshaw in the first over after tea. Only 10 short of a maiden double century, Renshaw pushed tiredly and edged to Aiden Markram at first slip.

At the start of the day, Nortje and Marco Jansen's bumper barrage proved  an ineffective plan and it was only when Mulder was introduced and bowled much fuller than SA struck.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa's first Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (second Test onwards), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster