Renshaw puts Australia on brink of ending Bavuma’s unbeaten Test run

Australia are closing in on victory over South Africa in the opening Test in Durban after Matt Renshaw followed a commanding batting performance with a crucial wicket to leave the Proteas facing an uphill battle to preserve their unbeaten record under captain Temba Bavuma.

South Africa ended the fourth day on 102-4, still requiring 319 runs to reach an imposing target of 421, with six wickets remaining and one day left to play.

The BBC reported that Renshaw, playing only his second Test since returning from a three-year absence, followed his first-innings score of 190 with 89 in Australia's second innings.

His contribution allowed Australia to declare on 314-6, setting South Africa a world-record target.

Renshaw then claimed his maiden Test wicket with part-time off-spin, dismissing Bavuma late in the day.

Australian captain Pat Cummins compounded South Africa’s difficulties by removing Tristan Stubbs after a carefully constructed bowling sequence, using shorter deliveries before inducing an edge with a fuller ball.

The dismissals left South Africa struggling to avoid their first Test defeat under Bavuma’s captaincy.

The Proteas have won 11 and drawn one of their previous 12 Tests under Bavuma, including their victory over Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s.

Markram carries South Africa’s hopes

Opener Aiden Markram remained unbeaten on 45 from 115 deliveries at the close, providing South Africa’s strongest prospect of batting through the final day.

Markram previously scored a match-winning 136 against Australia in the fourth innings of the World Test Championship final.

His fourth-innings Test batting average of 45.56 is bettered by only one currently active player, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis.

Markram also holds an encouraging record against Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, having faced 313 deliveries from him in Test cricket without being dismissed.

However, the challenge confronting South Africa remains considerable. Only twice in the past 13 years has a team survived 140 overs in the fourth innings to save a Test.

Markram shared a 66-run partnership with David Bedingham over 19.4 overs, briefly stabilising the innings as the pitch appeared to become easier for batting.

By the close, however, the surface was offering substantial turn, with even Renshaw extracting sharp movement through his occasional spin bowling. Earlier, Ryan Rickelton had fallen in the fourth over after mistiming a pull shot that presented Josh Hazlewood with a catch.

Renshaw dominates Australian innings

Renshaw’s contribution has been central to Australia's commanding position. After anchoring the first innings with 190, the 30-year-old adopted a more aggressive approach in the second innings, scoring 89 to help Australia establish its formidable lead.

His return to Test cricket after three years on the sidelines has strengthened Australia's batting line-up and given the tourists control of the series opener. Australia may, however, be without the services of former captain Steve Smith in the field on the final day.

Smith spent time off the field on day four after being struck on the helmet by an Anrich Nortje bouncer while scoring 27.

Bad light interrupted play on each of the first three days, although conditions allowed the fourth evening's play to continue long enough for Australia to make further inroads. Whether poor light again intervenes could influence the outcome, particularly after Australia elected to continue batting until tea before declaring.

The Durban Test opens a demanding home summer for South Africa, which includes two further matches against Australia, two against Bangladesh and three against England over Christmas.

For now, the Proteas face the prospect of their first defeat under Bavuma unless Markram and the remaining batsmen can produce an exceptional final-day resistance.