Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green scored half-centuries in the Australia fightback at Newlands on Wednesday, taking the tourists to 191 for four at tea on the second day of the deciding third Test against South Africa.
Australia still trail by 138 runs after South Africa were dismissed for 329 on the opening day. Renshaw made 74 and Green made 65 in a steady response that pulled Australia back after an early wobble.
Australia fightback at Newlands steadies the innings
Australia lost their first two wickets with the score on 58, and both fell in quick succession. Opener Travis Head made 41 before off-spinner Simon Harmer removed him with his first delivery of the match, with Head chopping the ball onto his stumps. Marnus Labuschagne then fell for a duck, caught by Aiden Markram at slip off Harmer, completing a double-wicket maiden that turned the morning.
Renshaw and Green then added 126 runs for the third wicket. Renshaw faced 139 balls and struck 10 fours before being caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton off Marco Jansen. Green hit eight fours and two sixes in his 110-ball innings before falling to Jansen, with Harmer taking the catch at slip.
Both batters had survived reviews early in their innings, and both reached their half-centuries off successive balls after lunch, with Green striking two sixes and a four in one over from Kagiso Rabada during a spell of short-pitched bowling.
Jansen has claimed two wickets for 28 runs in 11 overs, while Harmer has taken two for 43 in 14 overs. Josh Inglis was unbeaten on five and Alex Carey on one at the end of the second session. Jansen’s double strike also took him to 100 Test wickets.
How day one set up the fightback
Australia had fought back on the opening day after South Africa raced to 140 without loss at lunch. Mitchell Starc took six wickets for 72 runs as the hosts lost their final seven wickets for 125 runs.
Marques Ackerman led South Africa with 95 from 94 balls, while Aiden Markram scored 78 and David Bedingham made 50. Jansen added 52 to take the hosts to 329.
Starc said Australia had regrouped at lunch after a difficult morning.
“We didn’t have our best stuff in the first two hours but the last two sessions were right up there,” he said.
Why this Test matters
The match is the decider in a three-Test series between the two leading Test sides, and the series is level at 1-1. The winner of the Newlands Test will claim the number one position in the Test rankings, currently held by Australia.
Australia’s top order has a new look for this match. Renshaw moved up to open with Head, Green came into the middle order, and Inglis replaced the injured Steve Smith. Smith was ruled out of the decider with a neck injury sustained in training, and his absence left Australia’s batting thinner than planned.
Feature Pakistan earlier reported South Africa’s innings victory in the second Test, Green’s fitness ahead of the Cape Town decider and Anrich Nortje being ruled out of the third Test. The Renshaw Green Australia fightback is the latest turn in a series that has swung hard in both directions: Australia won the first Test by 214 runs in Durban, and South Africa hit back with an innings victory in Gqeberha.
With six wickets in hand and 138 runs still to erase, Australia’s evening session will decide whether the fightback becomes a first-innings lead or a short-lived recovery. Inglis and Carey must first survive a South African attack that has already struck twice in each session.
Frequently asked questions
What is Australia’s score in the third Test?
Australia reached 191 for four at tea on day two, trailing South Africa’s first-innings total of 329 by 138 runs.
Who scored runs for Australia?
Matt Renshaw made 74 and Cameron Green made 65, adding 126 runs for the third wicket. Travis Head made 41, while Marnus Labuschagne fell for a duck.
Why is the Newlands Test a decider?
The three-Test series is level at 1-1. Australia won the first Test by 214 runs in Durban, and South Africa won the second by an innings in Gqeberha. The winner at Newlands will take the number one Test ranking.
