South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Result and Series Outlook

This South Africa v Australia 1st Test result and series outlook looks at a Durban Test that Australia have steered for most of four days, setting the hosts 421 to win and leaving them on 102/4 at the close of day four with six wickets needed on the final day. Matt Renshaw has been the story, with 272 runs and a maiden Test wicket.

South Africa vs Australia - Where the Test Stands: Scores at a Glance

Below you'll find where the match stands, how Australia built their position, what a win would mean for the three-Test series, and where to check live Test cricket odds as the series moves on.

• Australia, first innings: 390 all out (Renshaw 190)
• South Africa, first innings: 284 all out, a deficit of 106
• Australia, second innings: 314/6 declared (Renshaw 82), setting a target of 421
• South Africa, second innings: 102/4 at stumps on day four, with Aiden Markram on 45 and Wiaan Mulder on 5
• Day five: Australia need six wickets, while South Africa need 319 more runs, which would be a world-record fourth-innings chase

How Australia Got Here: Renshaw's Match

Australia were in trouble early. Anrich Nortje and the South African pacemen reduced them to 124/6 on day one, with Renshaw the only specialist batter left. Instead of collapsing, Renshaw and captain Pat Cummins added an unbroken partnership to reach 187/6 at the close, and Renshaw went on to make a career-best 190 from 397 balls after reaching his first Test fifty in nine years. It was a slow innings, at a strike rate of around 47, but it rescued a position that looked grim.

His second innings could hardly have been more different. He hit 82 from 99 balls on day four, supported by Nic Maddinson's 38-ball 48 and Cummins' unbeaten 32 off 12 balls, as Australia scored at more than five runs an over before declaring. With the ball, he then took his first Test wicket, Temba Bavuma, finishing the game with 272 runs. You can follow how the market reacts to performances like this on Sportsbet.io's cricket hub as the series continues.

What Went Wrong for South Africa

The hosts had their chances. Their pace attack had Australia in a hole on the opening day, and bad light cost time across the first three days. But they couldn't turn that into a first-innings lead, replying with 284, and no South African batter has reached 50 in the match so far. Steve Smith also took four catches in the first innings to pass Joe Root as the non-wicketkeeper with the most Test catches, a reminder of how much Australia's fielding added to the pressure.

In the chase, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs were all dismissed, leaving Markram as the last line of resistance. With only six wickets in hand and 319 runs still needed, the odds are heavily against the hosts.

What a Win Would Mean for the Series

If Australia complete the job, it would be their fourth consecutive Test win at Kingsmead and give them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha from 18 to 22 October and the third at Newlands in Cape Town from 27 to 31 October. It would also be a statement from a side that lost the 50-over series 2-1, against hosts who are the reigning World Test Champions. The international cricket fixtures page lists the rest of the tour.

Questions for Both Sides Heading to Gqeberha

For Australia, the concern is the top order. Travis Head fell early, and Marnus Labuschagne and Smith were both out at 84 in the first innings, leaving Renshaw to do a lot of heavy lifting. A side that relies on one batter for 272 runs won't always have that luxury. For South Africa, the question is how to fix a batting order that hasn't produced a half-century in this Test, and whether their attack can find early wickets at Gqeberha.

Selection and conditions will matter as much as form. Check the upcoming matches page for what's listed as the second Test approaches, and use in-play cricket betting only if you're comfortable following a match session by session.

Betting Responsibly on a Five-Day Test

A match that runs for five days can tempt you to keep adding bets session by session, especially when one side looks to be in control. Treat the situation above as one data point among many rather than a certainty, and set a budget for the whole series rather than reacting to a single result.

Account tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, and time-outs help keep a long series within the budget you set for it. Sportsbet.io's responsible gambling page explains how to set these up, and its sportsbook lets you switch between decimal, American and Hong Kong odds. Betting should stay entertainment, not a way to chase back a loss from an earlier session.

If gambling has stopped feeling like entertainment, confidential support is available from:

• BeGambleAware
• GamCare
• Gambling Therapy
• South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (helpline 0800 006 008)

Age and identity checks apply, and betting is restricted to those who meet the legal gambling age and requirements in their jurisdiction.

FAQs: South Africa vs Australia

Has Australia won the first Test against South Africa?

Not yet confirmed at the time of writing. Australia need six wickets on day five, with South Africa on 102/4 chasing 421.

How many runs did Matt Renshaw score in the Durban Test?

Renshaw scored 272 runs across the match, 190 in the first innings and 82 in the second, and also took his first Test wicket.

Where is the second Test?

The second Test is at St George's Park in Gqeberha from 18 to 22 October, with the third at Newlands in Cape Town from 27 to 31 October.

Did South Africa win the ODI series before the Tests?

Yes. South Africa won the three-match ODI series 2-1 before the Test series began.