Australia 187 for 6 at stumps on Durban Test day one

Australia closed the opening day of the Durban Test on 187 for 6, bad light cutting the session short at Kingsmead. Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Anrich Nortje took two wickets apiece. Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins survived to stumps. Their partnership was worth 63. Australia had won the toss and batted.

Only 65.2 overs were possible. That leaves 24.4 of the scheduled 90 unbowled. ABC News reported that the reserve umpire used a light meter under heavy cloud before the players were taken off. South Africa had already reduced Australia to 149 for 6 by tea.

Three seamers, two wickets each

Mulder struck first. Travis Head edged him down the leg side for 9, caught by Kyle Verreynne after a review. Jansen then bowled Nic Maddinson, who had faced 33 balls without scoring. Mulder removed Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 37 off the last delivery before lunch. Steve Smith edged Jansen to gully for 25 soon after the interval.

• Travis Head 9, caught Verreynne bowled Mulder
• Nic Maddinson 0 from 33 balls, bowled Jansen
• Marnus Labuschagne 37, lbw bowled Mulder
• Steve Smith 25, caught bowled Jansen
• Alex Carey 14, caught Markram bowled Nortje
• Beau Webster 4, caught Verreynne bowled Nortje

Nortje took the other two. Alex Carey went to Aiden Markram at second slip for 14. Beau Webster edged behind for 4, again on review. Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer bowled without success. Every wicket on the day fell to pace.

Renshaw and Cummins dig in

The seventh wicket pair came together at 124. They were still there two hours later. Renshaw reached 46 and Cummins 33, and Cricket Fanatics Magazine put them at 115 and 72 balls respectively. No other Australian stand passed 60 on the day. Cummins has now batted through the final session of an away Test first day with his side six down.

Nortje back in the Test side

Nortje was playing his first Test in roughly three years. South Africa named him in the squad in late September after a long absence through injury. Kagiso Rabada missed the match with a hamstring problem, and the hosts confirmed their eleven without him on Thursday. Nortje finished the day with 2 for 40 from 13.2 overs.

Temba Bavuma had been clear about the surface at the toss. "Looks a nice wicket, but we'll try to exploit whatever moisture is there," he said, in remarks carried by Magic 828. His bowlers found enough of it.

The overs still owed

Australia resume on Saturday with four wickets standing. The lost overs will be added across the remaining days where the light allows. Rain and cloud have been forecast through the weekend in Durban. South Africa will want the tail quickly.