Matthew Renshaw was no doubt the hero of the day, frustrating the Protea batsmen and giving Aussie supporters in the stands much to cheer about. Australia was teetering on 124/6 on Day 1 when Renshaw came to the crease.  

Patience, power and persistence took him to 190 off 397 balls and put the visitors firmly back in control of the game. It was Renshaw’s first Test ton in almost ten years and pushed Australia up to a total of 390. He fell short of what would have been a maiden double ton after being dismissed two balls into the final session.

The long day for the South Africans in the field showed when Protea openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram came out to bat. Rickelton was quickly dismissed in the second over for a duck after facing only three balls.

South Africa’s Aidan Markram. Photo: Facebook/Cricket SA

Markram and the number three batsman, David Bedingham, stuck it out under gloomy skies until bad light ended play just 8.4 overs into the South African innings. Markram returned to the shed on 15 not out and Bedingham on 12 not out for a score of 27/1 on the board.

Matt Renshaw reflecting on this Test century. Photo: Facebook/Australian Men’s Cricket

After the day’s play, Renshaw said he felt redeemed by his batting innings. “I never thought I’d be here this long. I think once I took a few years out of the team, and had an opportunity in 2023 and didn't take it, you probably think that you’re never going to get this opportunity again. 

“When I hit the ball (for a century), I was screaming at it, ‘Go, go, go!’ And it just hit me at once. And Nathan (Lyon) at the other end is pretty emotional. So to see that, it was pretty special.”

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg