Australia need six wickets on final day to win first test

DURBAN, Oct 12 : Australia's Matt Renshaw played a leading role to leave his side needing six wickets on the last day of the first test to beat South Africa as the hosts were 102-4 at the close of play at Kingsmead on Monday.

Set 421 runs to win after Australia declared their second innings on 314-6, South Africa saw opener Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, captain Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs all dismissed before stumps with part time spinner Renshaw weighing in with his first test wicket as his dream performance continued.

Aiden Markram (45 not out) and Wiaan Mulder, unbeaten on five, will resume on the final morning, needing to lead a stoic rearguard action if the home side are to avoid defeat.

"We gave up a couple of soft wickets again but the application Aiden showed is what we are looking forward tomorrow," said veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj. 

Rickelton’s place in the test side looks under threat after another early dismissal. He was out for a duck after three balls of the first innings and scored two on Monday before an attempted pull shot saw him edge Josh Hazlewood's rising delivery to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Bedingham was the second wicket to fall, making 46 before being trapped lbw by Hazlewood and ending a patient 66-run partnership with Markram, while Bavuma scored a single run, prodding at Renshaw's off spin and being caught bat-pad at short leg.

Stubbs also made one, getting a thick edge to captain Pat Cummins' delivery with another example of the poor shot selection that has dogged South Africa's batting.

"It's been a good last two days for us," said Australia's Beau Webster. "We've still got a job to do tomorrow but given ourselves a great chance."

RED-HOT BATTING FORM

Earlier, Renshaw continued his red-hot