Tails never fails: Aussie lower order proves worth again

Australia's lower order once again delivered a decisive performance with the bat in the first Test victory against South Africa in Durban. Recovering from 6-124, Australia's final four wickets added 266 runs in the first innings, headlined by a 134-run ninth-wicket partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Nathan Lyon. The stand marked Australia's highest ninth-wicket partnership since 1894, paving the way for a 214-run win.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood emphasized that having a set batter like Renshaw to control the strike was essential to blunting the attack. The stand marked Australia's fourth century lower-order partnership since 2024. During the match, Lyon also became the first cricketer in Test history to reach 1,000 runs scored from the number 10 batting position.