South Africa v Australia first Test: Day one takeaways
Only 65.2 overs were bowled on the opening day, with stumps being drawn early due to bad light.
On the opening day of the first Test match between South Africa and Australia at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, South Africa took an early lead. Despite the home team batting first and winning the toss, they faced challenges in building partnerships, being 187/6 at the close of play. Here are the key takeaways from day one of the match.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who returned after a three-year hiatus, delivered an impressive performance. Nortje bowled 13.2 overs and took 2/40 wickets. He removed Alex Carey and Beau Webster just three balls apart, stating that the quick wickets were reminiscent of his game. Nortje expressed his satisfaction at contributing to the team's efforts and enjoying playing again.
The Proteas, who had a depleted seam attack due to multiple injuries, relied on Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, and Simon Harmer to provide wickets. Mulder and Jansen both took two wickets each, while Harmer played a role in containing Australia's lineup. However, Keshav Maharaj, another slow bowler, was less effective and did not take any wickets despite being more expensive.
Middle-order batter Matt Renshaw provided hope for Australia, scoring a patient 46 runs off 115 balls and putting on a 63-run unbroken partnership with captain Pat Cummins. The duo, who shared a 63-run stand for the seventh wicket, will be looking to capitalize on their momentum on day two. However, their efforts were thwarted when stumps were drawn early due to poor light.
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