South Africa restrict Australia to 187/6 on rain-hit Day One in Durban Test
Synopsis
South Africa's pace trio of Mulder, Jansen and Nortje — standing in for an absent Rabada — carved through Australia's top and middle order in Durban, only for Renshaw and Cummins to deny a complete collapse. Steve Smith's milestone overtaking Steve Waugh as Australia's third-highest Test run-scorer was lost in the drama; the real story is whether a rain-shortened Day One gives the Proteas enough to build a match-winning position.
Key Takeaways
South Africa restricted Australia to 187/6 in 65.2 overs on Day One of the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban on 9 October .
Wiaan Mulder , Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje each took 2 wickets , all without spearhead Kagiso Rabada .
Steve Smith surpassed Steve Waugh to become Australia's third-highest Test run-scorer in men's cricket.
Marnus Labuschagne registered his 11th consecutive innings without a fifty .
Anrich Nortje made his comeback to red-ball cricket after three years , taking 2-wickets in a single over.
Matt Renshaw (46*) and Pat Cummins (33*) added an unbeaten 63 runs for the seventh wicket to steady Australia's innings.
South Africa restricted Australia to 187/6 at stumps on Day One of the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban on Friday, 9 October, with bad light and rain cutting the final session short by an hour and just 65.2 overs bowled on the day. The Proteas managed this without spearhead Kagiso Rabada, as Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje shared the wickets two apiece.
Early Wickets Set the Tone
Australia elected to bat on a pitch carrying a tinge of grass, and the decision looked questionable early on. Mulder drew first blood, removing Travis Head for just 9, before Jansen ended Nic Maddinson's scoreless 33-ball stay on his Test return to leave the visitors in early trouble at 24/2.
Smith Milestone, Labuschagne Stumble
Marnus Labuschagne (37) and Steve Smith (25) mounted a fightback with a 60-run third-wicket partnership off 94 balls. During his knock, Smith surpassed Steve Waugh to become Australia's third-highest run-scorer in men's Test cricket — a significant milestone — hitting spinner Keshav Maharaj for two sixes before falling to Jansen after lunch. Labuschagne, enduring an extended lean patch, registered his 11th consecutive innings without a fifty when Mulder trapped him LBW with a sharp nip-backer.
Nortje's Comeback Delivers a Double Blow
Nortje, returning to red-ball cricket after a three-year absence, made an immediate impact by removing Alex Carey (14) and Beau Webster (4) in a single over, reducing Australia to a precarious 124/6. The double blow underscored both Nortje's enduring threat and Australia's fragility in the middle order under overcast conditions at Kingsmead.
Renshaw and Cummins Steady the Ship
The visitors' lower order provided resilience when it mattered most. Matt Renshaw (46 not out) and captain Pat Cummins (33 not out) shared an unbeaten 63-run seventh-wicket stand off 140 balls under heavy overcast skies and floodlights, demonstrating considerable patience to ensure Australia ended the truncated day with a degree of optimism. Off-spinner Simon Harmer contributed an economical 0-34 from 14 overs.
What to Expect on Day Two
Play is set to resume early on Saturday, with Australia needing a strong start from Renshaw and Cummins to push beyond 250 and put some pressure on the South African batting lineup. The Proteas, for their part, will be keen to wrap up the tail swiftly and exploit any continued movement with Rabada potentially available if fitness permits. This is the opening match of what promises to be a keenly contested series between two top-ranked Test nations.
Brief Scores: Australia 187/6 in 65.2 overs (Matt Renshaw 46*, Marnus Labuschagne 37; Wiaan Mulder 2-31, Marco Jansen 2-35) vs South Africa.
Point of View
And South Africa's seamers — even shorn of Rabada — nearly made them pay in full. Labuschagne's lean run is a genuine concern for Australia's middle-order stability: 11 consecutive innings without a fifty from one of the world's best is a structural problem, not a bad patch. Nortje's return to red-ball cricket after three years is the subplot worth watching; if he stays fit, South Africa's attack depth becomes formidable for the rest of the series. The rain intervention was ultimately Australia's best ally on the day.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Day One score of the South Africa vs Australia first Test in Durban?
Australia ended Day One at 187/6 in 65.2 overs at Kingsmead, Durban, with Matt Renshaw unbeaten on 46 and captain Pat Cummins on 33 not out . Bad light and rain cut the final session short by an hour.
Who took wickets for South Africa on Day One?
Wiaan Mulder , Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje each claimed 2 wickets apiece for South Africa. Notably, first-choice spearhead Kagiso Rabada was absent from the attack.
What milestone did Steve Smith achieve in the Durban Test?
Steve Smith surpassed Steve Waugh to become Australia's third-highest run-scorer in men's Test cricket during his knock of 25 in the first innings at Durban.
Why is Marnus Labuschagne's dismissal significant?
Labuschagne's LBW dismissal for 37 — trapped by a Wiaan Mulder nip-backer — extended his lean run to 11 consecutive Test innings without a fifty , raising questions about his form heading into the remainder of the series.
When did Anrich Nortje last play red-ball cricket before this Test?
Anrich Nortje was making his comeback to red-ball cricket after a three-year absence in the Durban Test. He made an immediate impact, removing Alex Carey and Beau Webster in a single over to reduce Australia to 124/6 .
