First Test, Durban (day four of five)
Australia 390 & 314-6 dec: Renshaw 82; Nortje 2-56, Maharaj 2-56
South Africa 284 & 102-4: Bedingham 46, Markram 45*; Hazlewood 2-20
South Africa need 319 runs to win
Australia are primed to earn a statement victory and end South Africa’s unbeaten run under captain Temba Bavuma after Matt Renshaw’s remarkable Test continued on day four of their series opener in Durban.
Renshaw, in his second game back after a three-year absence, followed his 190 in the first innings with 89 to allow Australia to declare on 314-6. The 30-year-old then dismissed Bavuma with his part-time off-spin late in the day for his first Test wicket.
Captain Pat Cummins followed with a perfect set-up of Tristan Stubbs – pushing him back with shorter balls before nicking him off with a full delivery – to leave South Africa 102-4 at the close.
Set a world record 421 to win, they need to bat out the final day for a draw with six wickets remaining.
South Africa have won 11 and drawn one of their Tests under Bavuma’s captaincy, including their run to the 2025 World Test Championship final where they beat Australia at Lord’s.
This is the first Test in a South African summer that includes two more against the Australians, two against Bangladesh and three against England over Christmas.
Even bad light, which cut short the first three days, did not come to South Africa’s aid on the fourth evening.