Matt Renshaw scored a career-best 190 as Australia took control of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday.
The 30-year-old helped Australia recover from a difficult position to post 390 in their first innings on the second day.
Josh Hazlewood then struck in the second over of South Africa’s reply, leaving the hosts at 27 for one at stumps.
Renshaw had waited nearly 10 years for his second Test century. His previous hundred came against Pakistan in Sydney in January 2017, when he scored 184.
The Australian batter had faced several setbacks since then. He lost his place in the national team for long periods and was even dropped by Queensland before returning to Australia’s Test side against Bangladesh in August.
Renshaw struggled to control his emotions when he finally reached three figures.
“It’s a weird one,” he said of the way he celebrated when he hit the boundary for his century.
“Once I’d had a few years out of the team, then had an opportunity in 2023 and didn’t take it, you probably think that you’re never going to get this opportunity again so when I hit the ball I was screaming at it, ‘Go, go, go’.
“It sort of all just hit me at once,” he added.
Renshaw’s innings proved crucial after Australia had struggled on the opening day.
The visitors were reduced to 124 for six before recovering to 187 for six at stumps on Friday.
They were still in trouble at 230 for eight when Nathan Lyon joined Renshaw at the crease on Saturday.
However, the pair frustrated South Africa with a 134-run ninth-wicket partnership, setting a new Australian record against the Proteas.
Renshaw carefully managed the strike to protect Lyon and keep South Africa’s bowlers working in the hot and humid conditions.
He later estimated that he had turned down more than 40 runs by refusing singles early in overs.
“That was the benefit for us, just keeping them out in the field,” Renshaw said.
“Get their quicks coming back on, trying to get them back in their third, fourth, fifth spells.”
South Africa’s bowlers struggled to break the partnership as Australia continued to build their total.
Wiaan Mulder eventually finished as the hosts’ most successful bowler with four wickets for 68 runs.
Mulder admitted that the conditions offered little help to the bowlers and praised Renshaw’s approach.
“I think we bowled well but Renshaw played beautifully.
“He left extremely well, he played what was in front of him and it was important for him to keep the strike the way he did.”
Australia’s lower-order resistance helped them reach 390 before Hazlewood gave the visitors another boost with an early wicket.
South Africa will resume their first innings on the third day trailing by 363 runs with nine wickets remaining.
