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Live cricket scores: Australian bowlers ripping through Proteas as Steve Smith catches everything

Matthew Renshaw handed the Aussies ascendancy on day two with a career-high 190 but it’s now up to the bowlers to make the most of his rescue efforts. Follow all the action from Durban in our live blog.

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Aaron Kirby
The West Australian
Australia are on top.
Australia are on top. Credit: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Matthew Renshaw handed the Aussies ascendancy on day two with a career-high 190 but it’s now up to the bowlers to make the most of his rescue efforts.

Josh Hazlewood claimed an early scalp before bad light ended play on day one but Proteas opener Aiden Markram shapes as the vital breakthrough on day three.

Follow all the action from Durban in our live blog.

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Aaron Kirby is reporting live.

Spin

Lyon starts with a half volley and Markram says thank you as he whacks it to the rope.

The loosener is out of the way at least.

SA 1-63

Starc’s turn

Mitch Starc is on for his first over of the day.

The odd ball is bouncing and seaming but the deck is pretty placid.

Bedingham and Markram have eased past the 50 total.

SA 1-59

Look who’s back

Josh Inglis has rejoined the Australia Test squad after fracturing his finger in the ODIs.

He still has some protection over the break but he’s not very concerned by it.

Could be in the frame to play the second match starting a week from today.

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 11:  Australia players warm up during day 3 of the 1st Dafabet Test match between South Africa and Australia at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Josh Inglis warms up on day three. Credit: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Fear factor

Cummins has Bedingham dancing with a great bouncer at his arm pit.

Bedingham protected himself and the top edge goes over slip for a very streaky boundary.

Bit of bounce with the hard ball.

SA 1-41

HUGE appeal!

Cummins has the ball seaming back into the right handers and he beats Markram dead in front of the stumps.

But it’s high on the back leg and Australia choose not to review.

The slow motion replay makes it look very close! We await the TV ball tracker reveal which shows it just high.

Nick

It’s in fact Hazlewood that takes the opposite end and he draws a Markram edge first ball.

It died before getting to Webster and bounces through for a boundary.

There is a bit of wind around today which will dry the surface even more.

SA 1-31

Here we go!

The sun is shining and Pat Cummins has the mostly new ball in his hand to complete his over from last night.

Mitchell Starc will take the other end.

Let’s go!

Big day for Lyon

Australia’s seamers may not get a lot of assistance out of the deck today but the pitch is turning.

The spin was slow for South Africa’s Maharaj and Harmer but Lyon tends to bowl at faster speeds than those which might allow for quicker turn as the foot holes build.

After an average return from injury against against Bangladesh, the 38-year-old will want to show he’s still at his best.

And it always bodes well when he does a good job with the bat.

Revised session times

Just a reminder that after bad light closed play early on day one and two, and likely will on every day, we have different session times for the rest of the match.

The first session is an extra 15 minutes long while the middle session is extended by 45 minutes.

With the bad light the last session will be lucky to last half an hour.

Welcome!

Day two undoubtably belonged to Australia with Matt Renshaw making an epic 190 to allow the tourists to post a total of 390.

Josh Hazlewood then handed them the early wicket of Ryan Rickleton.

However, the pitch will flatten out more today and Aiden Markram looks in good nick while skipper Temba Bavuma is still to come.

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