Australia’s batsman surpasses his career-best with a record ninth-wicket stand alongside Lyon against South Africa
Australia’s Matt Renshaw celebrates his century with his teammate Nathan Lyon on day two of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban. Photo: AFP
Australia’s Matt Renshaw said his second Test century was a reward for years of hard work and setbacks after he struck a career-best score in the opening ICC World Test Championship contest against South Africa on Saturday.
Renshaw, who scored his maiden Test hundred almost a decade ago, surpassed his previous best of 184 against Pakistan with a marathon innings that also featured a remarkable 134-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon.
“I always wanted that second one,” Renshaw told reporters after the second day’s play.
“I had the monkey off the back early with that first one. I think it was like that has come in the last 10 years, all the hard work, all the failures, all the success. This was nice just for me to get.”
Promoted to number five for the first time since his recall in 2023, Renshaw adopted a patient approach against South Africa’s attack, reaching the close of the first day with only three boundaries from 115 balls.
He brought up his half-century off the second ball of the following morning before weathering the threat of the second new ball to continue Australia’s innings.
Renshaw admitted that he had feared another opportunity at the highest level might never come after failing to make the most of his return to the side in 2023.
“I think once (I) took a few years out of the team, had an opportunity in 2023 and didn’t take it, you probably think that you’re never going to get this opportunity again,” he said.
“So when I hit the ball, I was screaming at it, ‘go, go, go’. It sort of all just hit me at once.”
Lyon’s presence at the other end made the occasion even more memorable for Renshaw, who acknowledged the emotion surrounding their partnership.
“You had Nathan at the other end, who was pretty emotional. So to see that, it was pretty special,” he added.
The innings also set a new individual Test scoring record at the Durban venue for a batter coming in at number five or lower, eclipsing Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, who scored an unbeaten 153 in 2019.
Rain interrupted play for the second consecutive day, limiting South Africa’s reply as they reached stumps on 27 for one, still trailing Australia by 363 runs.
Josh Hazlewood struck early by dismissing Ryan Rickelton for a three-ball duck, leaving Aiden Markram unbeaten on 15 and David Bedingham on 12 as the hosts sought to steady their innings.