Australia Close In on First Test Victory as South Africa Resist in Durban
Australia moved within four wickets of victory on 13 October 2026, the final day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban. Reuters reported at lunch that South Africa were 166 for six in their second innings, after Josh Hazlewood and part-time spinner Matt Renshaw broke a defiant home stand that had lasted the first 110 minutes of the day.
Renshaw has been the star of the match for Australia, scoring 190 in the first innings and 82 in the second, taking his first Test wicket late on Monday and adding a second on Tuesday morning when Kyle Verreynne was caught at slip. For South Africa, only opener Aiden Markram passed fifty; he was unbeaten on 69 at lunch alongside Marco Jansen.
Former captain Steve Smith, who took a blow to the head while batting and did not field late on Monday, returned to the field on Tuesday. Cricket Australia said Smith had undergone a series of clinical assessments over the previous 24 hours under its concussion protocols and had been cleared to play; he took the slip catch that dismissed Verreynne.
This is the first match of a three-Test series. Australia hold a commanding position, and a win would put them in control of the tour, while South Africa were relying on Markram and the lower order to resist for as long as possible.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 澳大利亚对南非板球测试赛比赛实景，公共领域（Wikimedia Commons）
