Australia breeze to a big win over South Africa in Durban
Matt Renshaw's all-round brilliance and Josh Hazlewood's fiery spell on the final day handed the visitors victory in the first Test.
A disciplined Australian bowling unit finished the job in clinical fashion on Day 5 of the Durban Test, clinching a 214-run triumph to draw first blood in the three-match ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series.
The visitors laid the groundwork earlier in the match when Matt Renshaw played his best-ever Test knock, stroking a magnificent 190 to propel Australia to 390 in their first turn with the bat.
South Africa responded with 284, anchored by resilient knocks from David Bedingham and Aiden Markram, leaving Australia with a handy 106-run advantage at the halfway mark.
Refusing to sit on their lead, Australia turned up the heat in their second innings on Day 4, declaring at 314/6 after brisk half-centuries from Renshaw and Nic Maddinson, alongside late fireworks from Pat Cummins and Beau Webster.
Tasked with an improbable target of 421, South Africa's top order collapsed under the floodlights on Day 4 evening as Josh Hazlewood and part-timer Renshaw reduced the hosts to 102/4 at stumps.
Resuming the final morning at 102/4, South Africa faced an uphill battle as Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder dug in during an extended period of resistance.
Markram compiled a resilient 75 off 237 deliveries, holding the innings together while Mulder chipped in with 29 before falling to Hazlewood right before lunch.
The breakthrough opened the floodgates in the second session as wickets tumbled rapidly under disciplined pressure from the Australian pace and spin battery.
Renshaw struck shortly after the resumption to remove Kyle Verreynne for 1, adding another clever scalp to his memorable all-round performance.
Hazlewood then delivered a devastating spell with the second new ball, tearing through the lower order to finish with career-best figures of 6/49.
Hazlewood accounted for Marco Jansen (35) and Simon Harmer (0) in quick succession, while Mitchell Starc removed the resolute Markram for 75.
The resistance officially concluded when Anrich Nortje top-edged a short ball off Hazlewood, with Nathan Lyon pouching the catch at short cover to bowl South Africa out for 206.
Australia celebrated a thoroughly deserved 214-run victory, taking a 1-0 lead heading into the second Test in Gqeberha.
Renshaw was deservedly named Player of the Match for his outstanding contributions of 190 and 82 with the bat.
With this result, Australia have solidified their grip atop the World Test Championship Standings, while South Africa have slipped to the third spot as New Zealand make it to the second.
The two teams will next face off in Gqeberha starting October 18 for the second Test.
Series Schedule
First Test - October 9 to 13, Durban - Australia won by 214 runs
Second Test - October 18 to 22, Gqeberha
Third Test - October 27 to 31, Cape Town