Hazlewood’s 6-49 helped the visitors clean up the South African batting, securing victory before tea on the fifth day. Posted on October 13, 2026 October 13, 2026 Australia pace bowler Josh Hazlewood led his team to a 214-run victory over South Africa on the final day of the first cricket test match at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. The hosts’ resistance ended before tea on Tuesday when they were dismissed for 206. Hazlewood won 6-49 as Australia bagged the six wickets they needed on the final day to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. He struck twice in one with the new ball having taken two wickets on Monday and then breaking South Africa’s stoic early counter-attack. Hazlewood, 35, also removed the last batsman to secure victory in the first clash between the teams since South Africa beat Australia in last year’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s in London. Travis Head celebrates after the dismissal of South African Anrich Nortje sealed the Australian victory. [Marco Longari/AFP]South Africa held out for the first 110 minutes of Tuesday’s game before Hazlewood’s delivery was beaten by Wiaan Mulder and caught by a diving catch from goalkeeper Alex Carey. Mulder and Aiden Markram resumed at 102-4 overnight and the pair extended the fifth-wicket partnership to a patient 69 runs off 205 balls before Hazlewood’s breakthrough with Mulder making 29. Part-time spinner Matt Renshaw, who was man of the match for Australia with the bat, then took a second Test wicket when Kyle Verreynne quickly followed Mulder back to the dressing room with a reckless shot that was caught by Steve Smith without write down. South Africa were 166-6 at lunch and added 25 runs before they took up the new ball, but unraveled quickly thereafter. Hazlewood bowled Jansen for 35 and three balls later, Simon Harmer followed him as he flicked the ball towards Carey with his glove. Markram then fell behind a patient 75 off 237 balls, beating Mitch Starc’s delivery off his pads to be caught behind, but was only given out after a television review. Hazlewood then completed the victory when goalkeeper Anrich Nortje flicked the ball into short-half for Nathan Lyon. Former Australia captain Smith, who did not play in the final session on Monday after a blow to the head while batting, returned to action on Tuesday. “Steve Smith has undergone a series of clinical assessments over the past 24 hours in accordance with Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols and has been cleared to take the field this morning,” a statement read.
