Josh Hazlewood’s career‑best 6‑49 at Kingsmead gave Australia a 214‑run victory in the first Test against South Africa, ending the Proteas on the final day. The Australians chased a target of 421, a figure that seemed unlikely for the home side, and dismissed South Africa for 206 less than an hour after lunch and within five overs of taking the second new ball.
South Africa were all out for 206 after 284 in the first innings, while Australia posted 390 in their first innings and 314‑6 declared in the second. Matt Renshaw was the standout for the visitors, scoring 190 in the first innings and 82 in the second, with his part‑time spin claiming the first two wickets of his Test career.
In the fourth innings, opening batsman Aiden Markram forged a 75‑run partnership with Wiaan Mulder that lasted nearly six hours. Hazlewood broke the stand in the 82nd over, taking the wickets of Markram and Mulder before dismissing Kyle Verreynne three balls later. Markram was caught behind off an inside edge to Mitchell Starc after an initial not‑out decision that was overturned on review.
Renshaw resumed after the break, and when Verreynne attempted to cut him, Steve Smith was caught in the slips, giving Renshaw his second wicket of the innings and of his career. Smith had missed the first evening of play after a concussion test but returned to field on day five after medical clearance.
South Africa’s morning session yielded only 64 runs in 32 overs, and the team relied on Markram’s experience in fourth‑innings battles. He had scored 143 in a lost cause in 2018 and 136 to win the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s. In this match he reached 69 by lunch before losing partners rapidly after the new ball was taken.
The second of the three Tests will begin on Sunday at Gqeberha, with both sides looking to rebuild momentum after a hard‑fought contest in Durban.
