Matt Renshaw’s 190 breaks Virat Kohli’s decade-old tail-ender runs record in Durban
Matt Renshaw scored a career-best 190 for Australia against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday, breaking Virat Kohli’s decade-old Test record for the most runs scored alongside tail-enders in a single innings. His 397-ball innings included 174 runs while batting with Nos. 8 to 11 and powered Australia to 390 all out in the first innings on Day 2 of the Test.
Kohli had held the mark since December 2016, when he made 171 runs alongside the lower order during his 235 against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Australia had been 124 for 6 before Renshaw’s knock; his resistance kept the visitors competitive after the top order failed to deliver. The innings was Renshaw’s first Test century in more than nine years and his highest score in the format, a performance described in the report as a timely statement as he looks to secure his place in Australia’s plans.
Renshaw found an able partner in captain Pat Cummins, adding 41 runs to their 86-run stand. He then scored 12 in a 20-run partnership with Mitchell Starc before joining Nathan Lyon for a decisive late-innings spell. Renshaw and Lyon combined for a 134-run partnership for the ninth wicket, with Renshaw contributing 100 to that stand.
After the Lyon partnership, Renshaw added another 21 runs with Josh Hazlewood before Simon Harmer dismissed him for 190, ending his bid for a maiden Test double century. Across the innings he struck 21 fours and a six in 397 deliveries, and Cummins finished with 43 while Lyon made 27 off 92 balls.
The 190 also set venue-specific records: it made Renshaw the highest-scoring Australian batter in a Test at Kingsmead, surpassing Phillip Hughes’ 160 in 2009, and it was the highest Test score at the venue by a batter coming in at No. 5 or lower, beating Kusal Perera’s unbeaten 153 in 2019. Australia’s recovery from 124 for 6 to 390 all out was a central feature of the innings.
Former Australia batter Simon Katich praised Renshaw’s approach on SEN Radio: "I like him as a player," Katich said. "When he first came in, I liked him as a player, even though others thought he was too defensive. I think that is what this team has needed and been crying out for." For South Africa, Wiaan Mulder took 4 for 68, Marco Jansen claimed three wickets and Anrich Nortje picked up two.
South Africa finished Day 2 on 27 for 1, trailing Australia by 363 runs, with Ryan Rickelton dismissed for a duck by Josh Hazlewood and Aiden Markram unbeaten on 15 and David Bedingham on 12 when bad light brought an early end to play.
