Australia vs South Africa 1st Test 2026: Day 5 Live Updates and Highlights from Durban

Match Overview: South Africa vs Australia 1st Test at Kingsmead, Durban

• Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
• Captains: Temba Bavuma (South Africa), Pat Cummins (Australia)
• Toss: Australia won the toss and elected to bat first
• Broadcast: SuperSport Cricket & SABC 3 (South Africa), Fox Sports & Kayo Sports (Australia), Fancode (India)
• Officials: Chris Gaffaney & Richard Kettleborough (on-field umpires), Richard Illingworth (third umpire), Stephen Harris (reserve umpire), Javagal Srinath (match referee)
• Result: To be decided
• Player of the Match: To be decided

Day 5 Live Action Summary

The final day at Kingsmead saw Josh Hazlewood deliver an early strike, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for a duck by inducing a nick caught by Beau Webster. South Africa fought back with a strong partnership between David Bedingham and Aiden Markram, who combined for 84 runs, punishing anything full.

Australia's bowlers adjusted their lengths, restricting run-scoring while Nathan Lyon applied pressure. Mitchell Starc removed Markram, and Lyon later triggered an outside edge from captain Temba Bavuma, who managed only 3 runs off 27 balls.

By stumps on Day 4, South Africa was 102/4, trailing by 319 runs with six wickets left, facing a target of 421. Early wickets fell to Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, and part-time spinner Matt Renshaw took his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Bavuma.

Session Summaries

• End of Day 4 Third Session: South Africa 102/4, chasing 421
• End of Day 4 Second Session: Australia declared their second innings at 314/6, setting a big target
• Highlights: Matt Renshaw top-scored with 82, Pat Cummins scored a rapid 32 off 12 balls before declaration
• End of Day 4 First Session: Australia 174/4 at lunch, led by Nic Maddinson’s 48 off 38 balls

Key Moments from Earlier Days

• Day 3 ended with Australia 33/0 in their second innings after bowling South Africa out for 284, securing a 106-run lead.
• Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were instrumental in wrapping up the South African tail with disciplined bowling spells.
• On Day 2, Matt Renshaw played a marathon innings of 190, his first century since Boxing Day 2016, guiding Australia to 390/9.
• South Africa showed resistance with Wiaan Mulder taking key wickets and the lower order fighting hard.
• Early wickets on Day 2 put South Africa under pressure, but they battled well before bad light stopped play.

South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Score Summary

• Australia 1st innings: 390 all out
• South Africa 1st innings: 284 all out
• Australia 2nd innings: Declared 314/6
• South Africa 2nd innings (end Day 4): 102/4

Lineups

• South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje
• Australia XI: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Win Probability

• Australia: 37%
• South Africa: 63%

Series Schedule

• 1st Test: Oct 9-13, Kingsmead, Durban, 1:00 p.m. IST
• 2nd Test: Oct 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 1:00 p.m. IST
• 3rd Test: Oct 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 1:00 p.m. IST

Additional Notes

Australia's squad is unique as every player is aged 30 or older, the first time in their Test history. Nic Maddinson returned after nearly ten years to open the batting, and Marnus Labuschagne made his first Test appearance in South Africa, where he was born. Kagiso Rabada missed the South African XI, while Anrich Nortje returned after over three years out. Josh Inglis is sidelined for Australia due to a fractured finger but is expected back for the second Test.