By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Australia arrived in Durban with questions over their batting. They left with a 1–0 series lead, a resurgent Matt Renshaw and another reminder of why their experienced bowling attack remains one of the most formidable in Test cricket.
Josh Hazlewood delivered the decisive blow on Tuesday, taking a career best six for 49 as South Africa were dismissed for 206 in their second innings, handing Australia a commanding 214 run victory in the first Test at Kingsmead.
The Proteas had resumed the final morning at 102 for four, needing an improbable 319 more runs to reach a target of 421. Aiden Markram offered determined resistance, batting for 237 balls to make 75, but once Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc took the second new ball, the contest ended in a rush. South Africa lost their final four wickets for just five runs.
It was a clinical finish to a match that had looked very different on the opening day. Australia were struggling at 124 for six after captain Pat Cummins won the toss, but Renshaw’s extraordinary 190 transformed the innings and, ultimately, the match. His follow up 82 in the second innings and two wickets on the final day completed a performance worthy of player of the match.
“Great performance, a lot built on Renshaw’s performance on Day 1. We managed to clinch and hold onto the lead from there,” Cummins said.
The Australian captain was equally generous in his assessment of Hazlewood, whose accuracy and movement made him difficult to withstand once the ball began to bite. “He’s known for being consistent, but that undersells him,” Cummins said. “He can reverse the ball, get the pace up, bowl anywhere. He’s the captain’s dream.”
Hazlewood’s final spell exposed the difference between the teams. Markram and Wiaan Mulder had spent much of the morning rebuilding South Africa’s innings, their fifth wicket partnership of 69 giving the home side a brief chance to make Australia work for the result. Mulder fell for 29 from 110 balls, caught behind off a delivery that drifted down the leg side.
Kyle Verreynne followed soon after, edging Matt Renshaw to Steve Smith at slip. Renshaw, who had not taken a Test wicket before this match, was suddenly contributing with the ball as well as the bat.
Markram remained, compiling a patient innings that gave South Africa some dignity amid the collapse. But Hazlewood found the breakthrough with a delivery that nipped back to hit Marco Jansen’s middle stump.
Simon Harmer fell in the same over, and Starc removed Markram before Hazlewood finished the job by having Anrich Nortje caught by Nathan Lyon.
“It was a tough slog, really. That first session, they dug deep. Markram’s a classy player,” Hazlewood said. “We knew the new ball was around the corner after lunch and it was going to do a few tricks on a deteriorating wicket.”
Australia had recovered from their early trouble by applying themselves better in every major discipline. Renshaw supplied the runs, Cummins contributed with bat and ball, and the attack maintained pressure until South Africa’s resistance finally gave way. Their fielders also made the important chances count.
South Africa, by contrast, looked rusty in their first Test since November 2025. Their first innings ended at 284, with David Bedingham’s 49 the top score. Too many batters got starts without building the substantial innings the situation demanded. In the second innings, Markram stood apart, but he could not find enough support.
The defeat also ended Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten record as Test captain. He had entered the match with 11 victories and a draw from his first 12 Tests in charge.
“Not the way you want to start. Got to give it to Australia. Dominated most of the game, even from 124 for six,” Bavuma said. “We don’t want to give them the opportunity to get back. We’ll need to have conversations. Guys have to go big in the first innings for us, like Renshaw did for them.”
There is little time for South Africa to dwell on the result. The second Test begins in Gqeberha on Sunday, and the expected return of Kagiso Rabada could provide a significant lift to the bowling attack.
His aggression and record against Australia would bring another dimension to the contest, although South Africa must also find greater consistency from their batting order.
Australia, meanwhile, will take confidence from a victory built on resilience rather than a perfect start. Renshaw’s 272 runs across the match will dominate the headlines, but the contribution of Hazlewood and the collective discipline of the visitors were just as important.
The series is far from settled. South Africa have a history of responding fiercely to setbacks against Australia, and Rabada’s possible return adds intrigue to the next chapter.
But in Durban, the visitors made the better decisions when the match was in the balance. From 124 for six to a 214 run win, Australia showed how quickly a Test can turn when one side finds its composure and the other cannot sustain its resistance.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
Australia: Travis Head, Nicolas Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.