Hazlewood's career-best fires Australia to 214-run win in Durban
Australia beat South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test in Durban to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The victory was completed on the final day on 13 October 2026, after a Test played from 9 to 13 October. Cricinfo
The scoreline tells the story. Australia made 390 and 314-6 declared, while South Africa replied with 284 and 206. BBC In Test cricket, played over up to five days with each side usually batting twice, a declaration means the batting captain closes the innings early to force a result.
Australia's first innings was built on resistance. Matt Renshaw scored 190 as Australia were all out for 390. Reuters South Africa were 27-1 in reply at that stage.
The key passage came low down the order. Renshaw and Nathan Lyon added 134 for the ninth wicket, a record ninth-wicket stand in Durban. Reuters It dragged Australia from trouble to a total that kept scoreboard pressure on the hosts.
South Africa stayed in touch at first. David Bedingham made 49 and 46 batting at number three across the two innings. His work gave the middle order shape, but Australia's 106-run first-innings lead still left the hosts chasing the game.
Australia then pushed hard for the win. Their 314-6 declared in the second innings set South Africa a huge target on a wearing fifth-day pitch, where cracks and rough make batting last the hardest job in the game.
Josh Hazlewood did the damage. The Australia pace bowler took 6 for 49 in South Africa's second innings. Al Jazeera The BBC described those figures as career-best. BBC South Africa folded for 206.
Only Aiden Markram held firm for long. He scored 75 from 237 deliveries in the fourth innings. It was patient, tight defence. It could not stop the slide around him.
For South Africa, the defeat carried weight. It ended a 12-match unbeaten run. It was also the first defeat for Temba Bavuma as South Africa captain in Tests.
Coach Shukri Conrad did not hide his frustration. "I would like to see more fight," he said, calling the performance concerning. BBC
What makes this stand out is the contrast. Australia found runs from deep in the order and then found relentless accuracy with the ball. South Africa showed grit in patches, through Bedingham and Markram, but never in long enough stretches to change the direction of the match.
