Matt Renshaw rescued Australia from trouble at 124-6 with his best score in Test cricket
Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - Matt Renshaw made a career-best 190 and steered Australia into a strong position on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Saturday.
Australia took their overnight total from 187-6 to 390 all out before Renshaw edged off-spinner Simon Harmer to slip off the second ball after tea.
Nathan Lyon (27) supported Renshaw in a ninth-wicket partnership of 134 – a record for Australia in Tests against South Africa.
Lyon went out to bat after the eighth wicket fell on 230 in the second over with the second new ball, with the South Africans seemingly on the verge of wrapping up the innings.
But the left-handed Renshaw played an almost flawless innings, taking most of the strike, while Lyon was content largely to defend on a pitch which had lost much of its life since Australia were reduced to 124 for six on the first day.
Renshaw’s only previous Test century was 184 against Pakistan in Sydney in 2016⁄17. He has had two lengthy periods out of the Test team but was recalled for Australia’s previous Test against Bangladesh in August.
str/mw