Goa, Oct. 9 -- South Africa claimed opening-session honors on Day 1 of the first Test at Kingsmead Stadium, reducing Australia to 84 for 3 at lunch after medium-pacer Wiaan Mulder struck on the very last ball before the break to remove a well-set Marnus Labuschagne.

Winning the toss under clear Durban skies, Australian captain Pat Cummins elected to bat first on a surface offering early grass cover. The fixture marks Australia's first Test tour on South African soil in eight years, returning to the venue of intense past rivalries with a renewed squad structure under Cummins' leadership.

South Africa's seam attack made rapid inroads into Australia's top order during the opening hour. Towering left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen set an aggr...