Al Jazeera
In a decisive display of bowling, Australia’s pace bowler Josh Hazlewood led his team to a 214-run triumph over South Africa during the concluding day of the first Test match at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
The South African innings concluded prematurely before the tea break as they were bowled out for 206 runs. Hazlewood's impressive figures of 6-49 were instrumental in securing the six wickets needed for Australia to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Hazlewood made significant contributions to the match by taking two wickets on Monday and delivering a crucial breakthrough as South Africa mounted an initial defensive stand. The 35-year-old bowler removed the final batsman, cementing the victory in the first encounter between the two teams since South Africa's surprising victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final last year at Lord’s, London.
On Tuesday, South Africa's resistance lasted for the first 110 minutes of play before succumbing to Hazlewood's legside delivery. Wiaan Mulder edged the ball, resulting in a catch by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. The overnight partnership between Mulder and Aiden Markram advanced the fifth-wicket tally to a measured 69 runs off 205 balls before Hazlewood's pivotal breakthrough, which saw Mulder dismissed with a score of 29.
Matt Renshaw, Australia's part-time spinner and match hero with the bat, claimed his second Test wicket shortly thereafter. Kyle Verreynne fell to a reckless shot, catching a delivery at slip off Steve Smith's glove without scoring.
At lunch, South Africa stood at 166-6 and added just 25 runs before the new ball was introduced, after which their innings swiftly deteriorated. Hazlewood bowled Jansen for 35 runs, and just three balls later, Simon Harmer was dismissed after gloving the ball through to Carey.
Markram, who exhibited patience with a score of 75 off 237 balls, eventually fell after an edge off a Mitch Starc delivery was caught behind, although he needed a television review before being ruled out. Hazlewood sealed the match victory when tailender Anrich Nortje offered a catch to Nathan Lyon at short midwicket.
Former Australia captain Steve Smith returned to the field on Tuesday after undergoing a series of clinical assessments in line with Cricket Australia's concussion protocols following a head injury sustained while batting on Monday. A statement confirmed that Smith had been cleared to participate in Tuesday's play.
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