Matt Renshaw's first Test hundred since 2017 lifts Australia in Durban

Matt Renshaw has made his first Test century in nine years, carrying Australia past 270 on the second day of the opening Test against South Africa in Durban

Australia had reached 277 for 8 from 96.0 overs at Kingsmead, having resumed on 187 for 6 after bad light cut the first day short.

Renshaw, 46 not out overnight, reached his hundred in the 93rd over from 204 balls. It is only his second Test century and his first since January 2017.

Wiaan Mulder did the damage with the second new ball, removing Pat Cummins for 43 and then bowling Mitchell Starc for 6.

Nine years between hundreds

Renshaw had not passed fifty in a Test for nine years, and his overnight 46 from 115 balls was already his most settled innings in the format for the best part of a decade.

He moved to the landmark with a shot through the leg side, having survived a thick outside edge on 91 that flew behind point for four.

Now batting in the middle order in a reshuffled Australian line-up, he has faced more deliveries than any other batter in the innings.

His half-century, reached earlier in the morning, was itself his first in a Test in nine years.

Mulder works through the lower order

Cummins, 33 not out overnight, nicked off for 43, caught by Aiden Markram at second slip.

Starc lasted six runs before Mulder knocked his stumps over, leaving Australia 230 for 8 in the 82nd over.

Mulder had also taken 2-31 from 15 overs on the opening day, having Travis Head caught behind and holding the catch that accounted for Steve Smith.

Four of the eight wickets to fall have now gone to the all-rounder.

A first day cut short

Australia won the toss and batted, and were 24 for 2 inside 11 overs as Head fell for 9 and Nic Maddinson was bowled by Marco Jansen for a 33-ball duck.

Smith made 25 and Marnus Labuschagne 37 before Anrich Nortje struck twice, removing Alex Carey for 14 and Beau Webster for 4 to leave Australia 124 for 6.

Australia were 149 for 6 at tea from 53 overs and managed only 38 more runs before the players left the field shortly before 4pm.

Renshaw and Cummins saw out the rest of the day in an unbroken stand of 63 from 140 balls, Australia closing on 187 for 6 from 65.2 overs.

Jansen and Nortje finished the first day with two wickets each, Nortje marking his return to Test cricket after three and a half years out of the side.

Spin comes into the attack

With the lower order digging in, South Africa turned to Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, who shared the bowling as the interval approached on the second morning.

Harmer was into his spell at the end of a session in which Australia added close to 90 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Every wicket so far has gone to a seamer, but the presence of two frontline spinners points to a surface South Africa expect to turn later in the match.

South Africa still to bat

Nathan Lyon was at the crease with Josh Hazlewood the last man to come, so Australia's first innings is close to its end.

Renshaw has added a ninth-wicket stand with Lyon since Starc was bowled, pushing the total on while the strike rotates at the other end.

South Africa have not yet batted, in a match scheduled to run until 13 October.

Scorecard: Australia 277 for 8 (96.0 overs) v South Africa, first Test, Kingsmead, Durban, day two.

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