Durban: Australia's hopes of building a competitive first-innings total on day one of the opening Test against South Africa rested on Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins after the visitors slumped to 187 for 6 before bad light ended play prematurely.
The innings began with the fallout from a puzzling selection decision that saw Nic Maddinson handed a Test recall as an opening batsman. Maddinson endured a torturous 33-ball duck, surviving an early lbw appeal before ultimately dragging a delivery from Marco Jansen onto his stumps.
Maddinson's dismissal left Australia at 24 for 2 following the earlier departure of Travis Head, bringing experienced batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne together at the crease. The pair steadied the innings with a promising 60-run partnership by lunch, actively rotating the strike and handling the spin of Keshav Maharaj.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically on the final ball of the opening session when Labuschagne was trapped lbw by Wiaan Mulder for 37. Shortly after the lunch break, Smith followed for 25 when he was caught at gully following a hostile spell from Jansen.
Anrich Nortje then applied further pressure with a fierce spell of short-pitched bowling, dismissing Alex Carey for 14 as Australia slumped to 124 for 6. Disaster loomed for the touring side before Renshaw and Cummins formed an unbroken partnership to rescue the innings.
Renshaw anchored the lower order from an unfamiliar middle-order position, while Cummins utilized Nortje's pace to score crucial boundaries. The pair pushed their unbeaten stand to 63 runs past the tea break, leaving Renshaw on 46 overnight as Australia looks to build on their total on day two.