Hazlewood's Six Wickets and Renshaw's 190 Give Australia a 214-Run Win Over South Africa in Durban
Josh Hazlewood took career-best figures on the final morning at Kingsmead after Matt Renshaw rescued Australia from 124 for 6, putting the tourists 1-0 up with two Tests left.
Thursday, October 15, 2026/2 min read
South Africa's chase was never going to be easy, and on the final morning in Durban it fell apart. Australia won the first Test at Kingsmead by 214 runs on Tuesday, bowling the hosts out for 206 before tea after setting them a target of 421, according to the Associated Press.
The result gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, and it was their fourth straight win at the ground. Australia, who chose to bat first, made 390 all out, South Africa replied with 284, and Australia then declared on 314 for 6, per Sky Sports. That left the hosts a mountain on the last day.
Who won the Durban Test for Australia?
Two players. Josh Hazlewood claimed career-best figures of 6-49 in South Africa's second innings, including four of the six wickets Australia needed on day five, and finished with eight in the match. It was his 15th five-wicket haul in Tests. He took two wickets on Monday and struck twice in one over with the new ball on the last day, per Al Jazeera. Among his victims were Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen, who was bowled for 35.
The match, though, belonged to Matt Renshaw before that. Australia had slumped to 124 for 6 on the first day when Renshaw took charge. He made 190 to drag them to a competitive total, added 82 in the second innings, and also took 2-30 with the ball. He was named player of the match.
How did South Africa's chase unfold?
The hosts started the last day on 102-4 and needed a miracle. Aiden Markram batted nearly six hours for 75 off 237 balls, the longest resistance of the innings, per Al Jazeera. He and Wiaan Mulder added 69 for the fifth wicket off 205 balls. South Africa were 166-6 at lunch, and when Markram edged behind off Mitchell Starc, he was given out only after a television review. He was the ninth man out.
It was South Africa's first home defeat in five Tests, the AP said. South Africa's first innings had been 284, with David Bedingham top-scoring on 49, and he made 46 in the second innings. Marco Jansen made 35 on the final day. Australia captain Pat Cummins was in a generous mood afterwards. "Hazlewood is just a captain's dream," he said, per Sky Sports.
When is the second Test?
The series moves to St George's Park in Gqeberha, with the second Test starting on Sunday 18 October, and South Africa hope the fast bowler Kagiso Rabada can return from a hamstring injury.
With Hazlewood in form and Renshaw's 190 behind them, Australia arrive in Gqeberha with the momentum. South Africa will need their batters to stay in longer than they did in Durban.
Published in The Outspoken Digest
Newsletter
The Digest, in your inbox
One edition, sent when it is ready. No noise, and your address is never passed on.
Read Next
More Sports →
Brewers Beat Dodgers 6-2 for a 3-0 NLCS Lead as Bauers and Mitchell Homer Off Snell in the Seventh
Oct 15, 2026/2 min read
Red Bull Extends Laurent Mekies as Team Principal to 2031 After Verstappen's Back-to-Back Wins
Oct 14, 2026/2 min read
Brewers Go Up 2-0 on the Dodgers in the NLCS as Guardians Beat the Rays in ALCS Game 1
Oct 13, 2026/2 min read
Bills Beat Rams 37-34 in Overtime on Monday Night Football After Tyler Bass's 45-Yard Kick and a Blocked Field Goal
Oct 13, 2026/2 min read