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Josh Hazlewood produced a career-best performance in Test cricket as Australia defeated South Africa by 214 runs in Durban. The Australian pacer picked up four of the remaining six wickets on Day 5 to wrap up the victory early in the second session.
Hazlewood started the day by dismissing Wiaan Mulder and finished the match by removing Anrich Nortje. In between, he continued to trouble the South African batters, leaving Aiden Markram with little support in the home team’s fight to save the Test.
Markram tried to lead South Africa towards an unlikely escape, much like Faf du Plessis did against Australia in Adelaide in 2012. However, the lower order could not provide the resistance needed to keep the hosts in the contest.
The defeat was also South Africa’s first in Test cricket under captain Temba Bavuma.
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Hazlewood Breaks South Africa’s Resistance
South Africa’s hopes of saving the match suffered a major setback late on Day 4, when they lost four wickets in their fourth innings. Markram and Mulder offered some resistance towards the end of the day, carrying that fight into the opening session on Day 5.
However, Hazlewood soon broke their partnership. He dismissed Mulder, who had battled for 109 deliveries to score 29 runs, with a catch behind the wicket down the leg side.
The wicket ended a stubborn 204-ball stand between the two batters and gave Australia the opening they needed.
Steve Smith then took another outstanding catch in the slips to send Kyle Verreynne back to the pavilion. It was Smith’s third stunning catch of the match and gave Matt Renshaw his second wicket.
With South Africa reduced to 156/6, Australia’s victory appeared increasingly likely.
Marco Jansen Delays Australia’s Victory
Marco Jansen joined Markram at the crease and put up a determined fight to delay Australia’s celebrations.
The pair added resistance in the middle, with Jansen facing 103 deliveries alongside Markram. Their partnership helped South Africa survive the remainder of the morning session and carry the contest into the second session.
However, Hazlewood once again proved too difficult to handle.
The right-arm pacer produced a delivery that seamed back into Jansen, breached his defence and crashed into the stumps. It was a crucial breakthrough that brought Australia closer to victory.
Hazlewood struck again in the same over, this time dismissing Simon Harmer. A sharp, rising delivery caught Harmer off guard, and the batter could only edge the ball through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The dismissal completed Hazlewood’s 15th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and left South Africa on the verge of defeat.
Aiden Markram’s Fighting Knock Ends
Mitchell Starc delivered another decisive blow in the following over by dismissing Markram.
The opener tried to negotiate the delivery but managed only an inside edge through to Carey behind the stumps. The dismissal was confirmed after an umpire’s review, bringing an end to Markram’s determined innings of 75 off 237 balls.
Markram had held the South African innings together for much of the fourth innings, but his departure left the hosts with just one wicket remaining.
Hazlewood then completed Australia’s victory by dismissing Nortje with a short delivery. The batter could only send the ball towards Nathan Lyon at mid-wicket, who took the catch to end South Africa’s resistance.
Hazlewood Records Career-Best Test Figures
Hazlewood finished with figures of 6/49, his best performance in Test cricket. He bettered his previous career-best figures of 6/67, which he recorded against India in Bengaluru in March 2017.
His spell proved decisive as Australia bowled South Africa out to secure a comprehensive 214-run victory in Durban.
Despite Markram’s determined effort and Jansen’s resistance, South Africa could not recover from their late collapse on Day 4. Hazlewood’s outstanding performance on the final morning ensured Australia completed the job and handed Bavuma his first Test defeat as captain.