Australia struggle against South Africa quicks in first Test
DURBAN: South Africa picked two spinners, but it was their fast bowlers who did the damage as Australia limped to 187 for six on the first day of the first Test in Durban on Friday.
Durban witnessed South Africa's fast bowlers outpacing Australia during the first day of their first Test match on Friday. Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, and Anrich Nortje claimed two wickets each, while spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer went without success. Matt Renshaw, batting at number five, led the Australian fight with a resilient 46 not out.
Captain Pat Cummins contributed 33 not out, forming the seventh wicket partnership with Renshaw. The duo added 63 runs for the seventh wicket, the best of the innings, before being dismissed. Nortje, South Africa's fastest bowler, bowled impressively, taking two wickets off three balls. Left-arm Jansen took two for 35 and Mulder two for 31.
Nortje expressed delight at returning to Test cricket after a three-year hiatus, emphasizing the challenge of adjusting to middle-order batting. Despite struggling to score, Renshaw and Cummins managed to stabilize the innings before a sharp delivery from Nortje ended the day.
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