Australia secured a commanding victory over South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test of the three-match series on the final day in Durban. Josh Hazlewood delivered a career-best performance, taking six wickets for 49 runs to dismantle the South African batting lineup and secure a 1-0 lead for the touring side.

South Africa began the day needing six wickets to win, with Aiden Markram providing strong resistance. Markram compiled a patient 75 runs from 237 balls, forming a crucial 69-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder that briefly raised hopes of salvaging a draw. However, Hazlewood broke the partnership and triggered a collapse that Australia efficiently capitalized on.

Wiaan Mulder, who had spent 110 deliveries at the crease, was dismissed shortly after Markram, accelerating the downfall of the home side’s innings. Matt Renshaw, who took his maiden Test wicket by removing Temba Bavuma on the previous day, continued to chip away by claiming the wicket of Kyle Verreynne for one. Steve Smith, who had been sidelined the previous evening for concussion testing after a helmet impact, returned to the field and took the catch at slip.

The introduction of the second new ball further aided Australia’s bowling attack. Hazlewood quickly dismissed Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer in the same over, followed by Markram, who edged a delivery from Mitchell Starc behind the stumps. The last wicket fell when Hazlewood had Anrich Nortje caught by Nathan Lyon, sealing South Africa’s defeat.

This outcome marked South Africa’s first loss under the captaincy of Bavuma and highlighted the challenge the team faced returning to Test cricket after a long layoff—they had not played a Test match for nearly a year and had been without home Test matches for 15 months. The extended hiatus appeared to affect their performance, while Australia’s pace bowling attack, led by 33-year-old Pat Cummins in the first innings and 35-year-old Hazlewood in the second, demonstrated resilience and effectiveness that defied questions over their age.

South African captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged Australia’s dominance throughout the match and emphasized the need for his team to improve their first-innings performance. "You have got to give it to Australia; they dominated most of the game," Bavuma said. "We’ll need to have some conversations ahead of the second Test. Guys have got to go big for us in the first innings."

The teams will meet again in the second Test, set to begin in Gqeberha on Sunday.