Source : the age
Matt Renshaw is leaving the ground to a hero’s reception from the touring fans and players from both sides.
He has been brilliant in this match and he goes into lunch on 102 not out with Australia having all the momentum.
They made 90 runs for the session despite losing two wickets and there are more runs there for Renshaw if Lyon can stick around with him.
Play is due to resume in around 40 minutes time.
That’s a superb second Test hundred for Renshaw, a little less than a decade since his first.
He’s been chanceless, guiding Australia to a competitive total with some help from the lower order, and showcasing the combination of sound judgement and power that made him a Test player at the age of 20.
There will always be debate over how fair it was to drop him from the team in 2017 and 2018, but he looks to be here to stay now.
Australia are 8-275 from 93 overs.
What a moment as Matt Renshaw reaches three figures in a Test for the first time since his maiden ton in 2017.
After battling for so much of his innings, Renshaw powered through the 90s going to 91 with a boundary through the slips and then hitting Jansen for four through the leg side followed by a single.
With his score on 96 and Nortje steaming in, he got his century with the first ball in the over almost duplicating his flick through the leg side for a boundary from the previous over.
He was running back for a second run when he realised the ball was going to four and his face lit up.
Nortje is attacking Renshaw on a very dangerous line and he was nicked low through the slips for four early in the last over.
Renshaw is on 91 as he managed to bat out the Nortje over following that boundary.
Australia are 8-261.
Renshaw hit two fours off the last over from Nortje as he moved to 87 to finish the over.
He has really picked up his scoring tempo in the last two overs and now has his second-highest Test score behind his 184 against Pakistan in 2017.
Lyon is on strike but Renshaw is burning along.
Australia are 8-254.
Matt Renshaw has been more active at the crease in the last few overs.
He’s moving across more and he whipped a good-length ball from Mulder off his legs for four.
He then ran a quick two as he went to 79 runs from 181 balls.
Nathan Lyon is showing his usual tough defence but Renshaw senses a moment.
There are still 45 minutes or so until lunch due to the early end to play on day one.
Australia are 8-242 from 86 overs.
Matt Renshaw is burned past 150 balls faced in a sign of his longevity in this innings.
But he’s having his troubles with Jansen, who is making the new ball bounce and move off the wicket.
Renshaw admonished himself when he edged a ball to ground a few deliveries back, but he also managed to guide Jansen into the outfield for runs.
Each run is more valuable than the last for Australia at this point, Kerry O’Keeffe and others have said 250 runs looks a decent score at present.
Let’s see if Australia can get there; they are on 8-232 from 83 overs.
Mulder has completely deceived Starc and swung the ball into the off-stump.
The ball pitched on middle leg and ripped across the towering Aussie, crashing into his off-stump.
On one hand, Starc would have loved to bat longer but on the other hand, he will be wondering how much movement he could get once the Aussies bowl.
Mulder has four wickets and a fiver is definitely there for him.
Australia are 8-230.
Josh Inglis is rejoining the Australian squad for the second Test as he continues his recovery from a broken finger that forced him out of contention for this game.
Will be interesting to see if he contends for a batting berth.
The second new ball has been called for and Jansen will take it.
Australia are 7-225 from 80 overs.
Commentator Simon Katich has commended the work of Renshaw and Cummins to stablise Australia’s innings following the fast fall of wickets on day one.
Cummins went out for 43 a short well ago but not before helping Australia pass 200 with an 86-run partnership.
Starc is holding steady since coming to the crease but he is yet to score while Renshaw continues to be stoic at the other end.
“They found a way – Renshaw and Cummins got Australia back to a position where they could still get to 250 plus,” Katich said on SuperSport’s coverage.
“If they were rolled for 160 yesterday, South Africa would have had all the momentum.”
Australia are 7-218 from 77 overs.
