Josh Hazlewood starred with career-best figures of 6/49 as Australia secured a 214-run triumph over South Africa in the first Test at Kingsmead.
The 35-year-old added to his day four dismissals of David Bedingham (46) and Ryan Rickelton (2) with the scalps of Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer and lastly the returning Anrich Nortje- who clothed a pull shot to Nathan Lyon to confirm the Proteas’ defeat.
Only opener Aiden Markram, who battled valiantly for almost six hours with 75 from 237 deliveries, showed any genuine resistance to an almost inevitable Baggy Green win in Durban.
The hosts began day five 102/4 in pursuit of a world-record 421 and ended 206 all-out; the final four wickets falling for only five runs.
Hazlewood’s magnificent display to register his 15th Test ‘fifer’, alongside two wickets for the brilliant Matt Renshaw, capped off a brilliant team performance for the Aussies in their first red-ball outing on South African soil since the infamous ‘Sandpaper Gate’ scandal.
Renshaw was recalled as an opener for the recent second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, ending a three-year absence from the side, yet a bold claim from the selectors meant the Queensland batter was shifted to number five as Nic Maddinson was brought in to partner Travis Head.
An ‘eyebrow-raising’ decision to recall Maddinson appeared to backfire when he scored a painful 33-ball duck, however Renshaw’s stunning second Test ton (and first in NINE years) clawed the tourists out of a perilous first innings position.
The 30-year-old hit 190 (397) with 22 boundaries in a classical Test knock, dragging Australia from 124-6 midway through the second session to 390 all-out.
Cummins’ dogged 43 deserves greater plaudits for the way he stuck around with Renshaw, but the left-hander’s 282 runs across the match demonstrate why so many people were clamouring for him back in the XI.
Add in his useful part-time off-breaks, and the Aussies have a serious player ready to take his second chance at Test cricket with both hands.
The prolific Steve Smith, who was given a 12-month ban following the events that unfolded in Cape Town eight years ago, failed to hit his usual heights with 25 and 27 in each innings.
Nonetheless, Smith did surpass England’s Joe Root for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test history. He achieved the feat with a brilliant slip catch to dismiss Bedingham off the bowling of skipper Pat Cummins in the first innings, removing the Durham batter one short of his half-century.
‘Smudge’ then generated more headlines with an outrageous slip catch off the bowling of Lyon, removing keeper Kyle Verreynne after anticipating a well-timed reverse sweep.
Marnus Labuschagne was also incensed despite two positive starts, achieving the rare feat of identical scores in each innings.
A lack of middle order replacements mean Labuschagne is unlikely to dropped after hitting 37 (58) twice, however pressure may be mounting with his Test century drought standing at 24 matches.
His last century was 111 against England at Old Trafford in the 2023 Ashes, an effort that was vital in retaining the urn.
In contrast, a chastening defeat is the first in charge for South Africa captain Temba Bavuma.
Prior to the result here, Bavuma had won 11 and drawn one of his 12 Tests as skipper- the last of which was a record-breaking 408-run triumph over India in Guwahati last November.
The nature of the heavy loss here illustrated signs of rust, but there were still encouraging signs ahead of the remaining two matches in the series.
Anrich Nortje, renowned for his fearsome pace, picked up four wickets on his return to the Test arena.
His quick-fire dismissals of Alex Carey and Beau Webster in the first innings showed shades of his devastating best to put the visitors firmly on the back foot- an advantage his side were unable to convert.
The 32-year-old’s last Test outing in February 2023 saw him collect figures of 5/36 in a 87-run victory over West Indies at SuperSport Park in Pretoria.
South Africa go into Sunday’s second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha knowing only a win keeps their hopes of a series victory alive.
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