Magnificent pace bowling from Josh Hazlewood who claimed 6/49 propelled Australia to a dominant 214-run victory over South Africa in the first test at Kingsmead in Durban on Tuesday.
On yet another sunny day in front of a small crowd dominated by Australian tour groups, Hazlewood claimed career-best figures with his 15th five-for with a display of unrelentingly accurate line and length bowling. He bowled 16.5 overs under a hot sun on a still-excellent pitch for batting and only rarely deviated from perfection. His dismissal of Simon Harmer with a delivery that leapt nastily from a good length to brush his glove before flying to wicketkeeper Alex Carey was probably the ball of the match that would have done for many a better batter.
South Africa began the day on 102 for four, seeking a nominal victory target of 421, but really needing to bat out the day for a draw.
They began well with Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder frustrating the visitors for the best part of two hours on a pitch that was still more than serviceable for batting. The pair added 69 in 205 balls before that man Hazlewood struck as Mulder edged an attempted glance that wicketkeeper Alex Carey claimed with a fine catch low down to his left.
That wicket opened up an end for the patient Aussies and part-time offspinner Matt Renshaw exploited it when Kyle Verreynne played a poor shot to almost guide the first ball of the next over to Steve Smith (cleared of concussion symptoms from the previous day) who took a straightforward catch at slip.
South Africa went into lunch on 166 for six, needing 255 for victory with at least one and a half sessions to survive for an unlikely draw.
Hopes of a miracle draw, similar to the Proteas’ remarkable rearguard at Adelaide in 2012, soon dissolved, however, thanks to Hazlewood. There was a last spasm of defiance from Markram and Marco Jansen who added 45 for the seventh wicket before Hazlewood speared one through the gap between Jansen’s bat and pad to knock back his middle-stump, another beauty.
Harmer’s dismissal followed immediately afterwards and Mitchell Starc removed the last major obstacle when Markram inside-edged a delivery onto his thigh before the ball spooned to Carey who dived forward to scoop it up. It was the keeper’s fifth catch of the innings in an impeccable display. Markram had shown plenty of patience, good technique and guts in his six-hour knock, striking 10 fours off 237 balls. Sadly for the Proteas his durability was not sustained down the order.
Hazlewood then finished the innings off with a bonus sixth wicket when Anrich Nortje spooned a delivery to midwicket and Australia were comfortably home a shade under an hour after lunch.
Not surprisingly, Matt Renshaw was made man of the match. Ten years after his test debut and nine after his first ton, he claimed his first player of the match award for his superb 190 in Australia’s first innings. He supplemented that with an aggressive 82 in the second innings as well as a useful contribution with his off-breaks (2/30).
Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, was delighted with the win. “It was a great performance, with the foundations built on Renshaw's performance on day one. We managed to clinch and hold onto the lead from there. Everywhere I look, there's test wickets. The two quicks and Lyno (Nathan Lyon) always get to work, makes my life easy. I haven't played a lot of tests in 18 months and that felt as good as I could have felt. Felt I could bowl more overs when needed. It's nice being 1-0 up, better than the alternative. Playing away is hard, getting the win and confidence is good. Hazlewood is known for being consistent but that undersells him as he can reverse the ball, get the pace up, bowl anywhere; he's the captain's dream.”
South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, was disappointed. “It’s not the way you want to start. You’ve got to give it to Australia, they dominated most of the game, even from 124 for 6 (in their first innings). We don't want to give them the opportunity to get back. We'll need to have conversations. Guys have to go big in the first innings for us, like Renshaw did for them. Number of guys got in in the first innings, couldn't go big. Their bowling was proactive and we'll learn from how they played.”
The next match in the three-test series begins at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Sunday.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Nicolas Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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