Australia completed a 214-run victory over South Africa at Kingsmead on Tuesday after Josh Hazlewood’s career-best six-wicket haul ended the Proteas’ resistance on the final day of the first Test.
Set a world-record target of 421, South Africa resumed on 102 for four but was dismissed for 206 during the afternoon session. The result gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the series and brought Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten run as Test captain to an end.
Aiden Markram provided the strongest resistance, batting for nearly six hours and scoring 75 from 237 deliveries. He and Wiaan Mulder added 69 for the fifth wicket as South Africa tried to extend the contest and force Australia to work for the remaining wickets.
Hazlewood broke that stand when Mulder, after making 29 from 110 balls, was caught down the leg side. Kyle Verreynne then fell for a duck to part-time spinner Matt Renshaw, leaving the lower order exposed.
The second new ball proved decisive. Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc moved quickly through the tail, while Markram’s long vigil ended when he inside-edged Starc through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Hazlewood finished with six for 49, the best figures of his Test career.
Renshaw was the central figure across the match. His 190 in Australia’s first innings rescued the visitors from 124 for six, and he followed it with 82 in the second innings before contributing two wickets with his off-spin.
South Africa will have little time to regroup before the second Test begins at St George’s Park in Gqeberha in five days. The possible return of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada would strengthen the attack, but the Proteas must also address a batting display in which promising starts repeatedly failed to become substantial innings.
Source: Reporting based on Sport South Africa. Featured image: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images, as credited by the source.