South Africa vs Australia: Bad light stops play on day one of first Test as hosts reduce Pat Cummins' side to 187-6 in Durban

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@ 09/10/2026

Australia captain Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw led the fightback against South Africa on day one of the first Test in Durban, as the visitors were reduced to 187-6 as bad light stopped play 24.4 overs early.

South Africa's pace bowlers enjoyed a bright start to the three-Test series, with Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje all taking two wickets each.

With Australia sinking to 124-6, Renshaw (46no) and Cummins (33no) battled back to put on an unbeaten seventh-wicket stand of 63 and salvage some momentum heading into day two.

Scorecard: Australia 187-6 vs South Africa after day one
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Smith smashed two sixes in four balls as he looked to hit back against South Africa's pace bowlers

Australia, who won the toss and elected to bat first, found themselves two down inside the first 10 overs, with Travis Head (9) first edging behind to Kyle Verreynne off a delivery from Mulder.

Three overs later, Nic Maddinson, who returned to the Australia Test squad for the first time since 2016 after recovering from testicular cancer, was bowled by Jansen after facing 33 deliveries without scoring.

Marnus Labuschagne settled at the crease with Australia 24-2, but his recent struggles with the bat continued, as Australia's No 3 was only able to make 37 runs off 58 deliveries before he was pinned lbw by Mulder.

Labuschagne reviewed but the decision was umpire's call, meaning the Queensland batter has now failed to score a half-century in his last six Tests. His most recent, a 65, came against England at The Gabba during last winter's Ashes series.

Image: Marnus Labuschagne made 37 runs off 58 deliveries before he was pinned lbw by Wiaan Mulder

Steve Smith, who returned to play in his first Test match in South Africa following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, was struck by a painful blow on the hand, before he was caught next ball by Mulder at gully for Jansen's second wicket of the day.

Australia passed the 100-run mark inside 35 overs, but Nortje struck twice in two deliveries, removing Alex Carey and Beau Webster.

Carey was caught at second slip for 14, before South Africa successfully chose to use their final review after Webster edged a ball behind to Verreynne, having made four runs off two deliveries.

Renshaw, who came back into the Australia side earlier in 2026 following a three-year hiatus, will resume at the crease on Saturday, four runs away from his fourth half-century in Test cricket.

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