Josh Hazlewood took a career-best 6 for 49 as South Africa were bowled out for 206 chasing 421, handing Australia a 214-run win in Durban and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Josh Hazlewood finished the job on the final day in Durban. His career-best 6 for 49 bowled South Africa out for 206 in 86.5 overs, sealing a 214-run win for Australia in the first Test at Kingsmead and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st Test, Australia in South Africa 2026-27, Kingsmead, Durban, 9 to 13 October 2026 (ICC World Test Championship) |
| Result | Australia won by 214 runs and lead the three-match series 1-0 |
| Scores | Australia 390 & 314/6d; South Africa 284 & 206 all out in 86.5 overs, chasing 421 |
| Hazlewood | 6 for 49 in 16.5 overs, four maidens, a career best and his 15th Test five-wicket haul |
| With the bat | Matt Renshaw made 190 in the first innings and 82 off 99 balls in the second |
| The target | 421, a total no team has ever chased down in Test history |
Hazlewood's career best
The figures of 6 for 49 beat his previous best of 6 for 67 against India in Bengaluru in March 2017. It was his 15th five-wicket haul in Tests, and the Cricinfo live score page lists him on 311 Test wickets in 79 matches, past the 300 mark.
How the last day unfolded
At lunch South Africa were 166 for 6, with Aiden Markram unbeaten on 69 off 200 balls and Hazlewood on 3 for 39. Markram and Wiaan Mulder had added 69 for the fifth wicket before Mulder, who faced 110 balls for 29, was strangled down the leg side to wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Hazlewood. Kyle Verreynne fell for 1, caught by Steve Smith off Matt Renshaw, with Smith back on the field after passing concussion tests following his day-four helmet blow.
After lunch the collapse was quick. Hazlewood bowled Marco Jansen for 35 with a ball that nipped back through the gate, then removed Simon Harmer for a three-ball duck, caught behind. Mitchell Starc ended Markram's resistance for 75 off 237 balls, caught behind by Carey after an umpire's review. Hazlewood wrapped up the Test when Anrich Nortje holed out to Nathan Lyon at mid-wicket. South Africa lost their last four wickets for five runs.
The first innings backbone
Australia's total of 390 in the first innings was built on Renshaw's 190, with Mulder taking 4 for 68 and Marco Jansen 3 for 68 for South Africa. Renshaw added 82 off 99 balls in the second innings, which ended on 314 for 6 declared, with Anrich Nortje and Keshav Maharaj taking two wickets each for 56 runs.
What it means
This is the first Test series between the two sides in South Africa since the 2018 sandpaper scandal, and Australia have started it with a commanding win that puts them 1-0 up with two Tests to play.
The story comes from ESPNcricinfo (Tristan Lavalette), cross-checked against Cricbuzz, Sky Sports, SuperSport and the scorecard. Read the full piece on ESPNcricinfo. ESPNcricinfo.
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