Photo via Hindustan Times

South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Live Score: Pat Cummins, Matt Renshaw aim to continue fightback in Durban

Australia’s fightback in the opening Test against South Africa took a decisive turn on Day 1 in Durban, where the visitors ended the day at 187/6 after limited play due to bad light. The top order collapsed early, but captain Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw steadied the innings with an unbeaten seventh-wicket stand, with Cummins on 33 and Renshaw unbeaten on 46.

The match now hinges on their ability to build on this partnership as South Africa’s bowlers—led by Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, and Anrich Nortje—each claimed two wickets apiece, including Nortje’s return to Test cricket after a three-year absence. Only 65.2 overs were bowled on Day 1, with play ending early at Kingsmead, leaving match officials to recover lost time ahead of Day 2’s resumption.

Australia’s top order struggled against South Africa’s pace attack, with Travis Head dismissed for 9 by Mulder, while Nic Maddinson—playing his first Test since December 2016—was dismissed for 0 by Jansen. Marnus Labuschagne managed 37 before falling to Jansen, and Steve Smith, dismissed for 25 by the same bowler, surpassed Steve Waugh to become Australia’s third-highest run-scorer in men’s Test history.

The collapse of the top six left Cummins and Renshaw to anchor the innings, their partnership providing the stability Australia needed after the early setbacks.

The Test also marked Australia’s deployment of the oldest playing XI in their men’s Test history, with an average age of 34.59 years—ranking seventh-oldest of all time. All 11 players in the XI were aged 30 or above, led by Nathan Lyon at 38, while Matt Renshaw, at 30, was the youngest.

The squad’s average age of around 32.6 further underscored the team’s reliance on experience, with only three players under 30 in the 18-member group. The match began 30 minutes earlier than customary to maximize daylight, though the early interruption on Day 1 forced adjustments to the schedule.

Day 2’s first session in Durban will run from 7:30 am to 9:45 am GMT, with an additional 15 minutes added to each of the first two sessions to compensate for the lost time. Weather conditions on Day 2 were overcast but expected to improve, with no immediate threat of rain.

The focus now shifts to Cummins and Renshaw, who will look to extend their partnership and set a platform for Australia’s middle order as South Africa’s bowlers aim to capitalize on the early momentum gained on Day 1.

This report also draws on coverage from The Times of India, CricketAddictor.

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