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# Australia crush South Africa with Hazlewood's career best
- URL: https://www.bushletter.com/hazlewood-takes-6-49-as-australia-beat-south-africa-by-214-runs/
- Published: 2026-10-13T23:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-13T23:44:59.000Z
- Description: Matt Renshaw's 190 and 82 earned him Player of the Match honours as Australia took the lead in the three-Test series.
- Author: Bushletter Newsroom
- Tags: Sport, Australia, Josh Hazlewood

TLDR

Josh Hazlewood claimed career-best figures of 6-49 to bowl Australia to a 214-run victory over South Africa in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban. Matt Renshaw's scores of 190 and 82 earned him Player of the Match honours, and Australia now lead the three-Test series 1-0.

## Hazlewood delivers career best as Australia seal series lead

Australia beat South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, on 13 October, with Josh Hazlewood taking career-best figures of six for 49 to dismiss the hosts for 206 in their second innings.[\[1\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/australia-breeze-to-a-big-win-over-south-africa-in-durban?ref=bushletter.com) The victory gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series after the opening match in Durban.[\[1\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/australia-breeze-to-a-big-win-over-south-africa-in-durban?ref=bushletter.com)

Australia posted 390 in their first innings and then declared their second innings on 314 for six, leaving South Africa a target of 421.[\[1\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/australia-breeze-to-a-big-win-over-south-africa-in-durban?ref=bushletter.com) South Africa's first-innings reply of 284 kept the contest alive through to the final day, before Hazlewood swept through their order in the second.[\[1\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/australia-breeze-to-a-big-win-over-south-africa-in-durban?ref=bushletter.com)

Aiden Markram offered the only meaningful resistance in South Africa's second innings, grinding out 75 off 237 deliveries during a lengthy stay at the crease as the rest of the order fell to Australian pace and spin on a Kingsmead surface that suited both.[\[1\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/australia-breeze-to-a-big-win-over-south-africa-in-durban?ref=bushletter.com)

## Renshaw's positional switch transforms Australia's batting

Matt Renshaw scored 190 in Australia's first innings and 82 in the second, with those two scores securing the Player of the Match award by some distance.[\[1\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/australia-breeze-to-a-big-win-over-south-africa-in-durban?ref=bushletter.com) Both innings came after Australia shifted Renshaw from the top of the order to number five, a move captain Pat Cummins tied directly to the batsman's form against spin.[\[4\]](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4591880/matthew-renshaw-first-test-south-africa-190-82-australia-kingsmead-positional-switch-number-five-opener-maddinson-cummins-green-cricketplus?ref=bushletter.com)

Cummins said that his time watching Renshaw play spin in the one-day series had made him think Renshaw would look good at number five.[\[4\]](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4591880/matthew-renshaw-first-test-south-africa-190-82-australia-kingsmead-positional-switch-number-five-opener-maddinson-cummins-green-cricketplus?ref=bushletter.com) Nic Maddinson, who took up an opening role as part of the reshuffle, said he had batted everywhere from one to seven in Sheffield Shield cricket across his career and said that this experience left him feeling well equipped to handle most roles when called upon.[\[4\]](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4591880/matthew-renshaw-first-test-south-africa-190-82-australia-kingsmead-positional-switch-number-five-opener-maddinson-cummins-green-cricketplus?ref=bushletter.com)

Kingsmead's reputation for spin-friendly conditions shaped the tactical thinking of both sides throughout the contest, while Australia's willingness to restructure their batting order around that threat proved decisive.[\[3\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/pacer-returns-as-south-africa-name-xi-for-first-australia-test?ref=bushletter.com)

## Smith cleared after concussion scare

Steve Smith passed Cricket Australia's concussion protocols after taking a blow to the helmet during day four and was cleared to bat and field on day five.[\[2\]](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4591082/steve-smith-anrich-nortje-head-concussion-check-protocol-south-africa-australia-first-test-kingsmead-durban-match-report-day-four-news-scores-video-highlights-toss?ref=bushletter.com) The clearance removed a potential complication for Australia as the team prepared for the final day, at which point the result was still to be confirmed.

The first Test was the first meeting between Australia and South Africa since last year's World Test Championship Final at Lord's, which South Africa won.[\[3\]](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/pacer-returns-as-south-africa-name-xi-for-first-australia-test?ref=bushletter.com) The second Test in the three-match series is scheduled to follow the Durban match as the next fixture in the series.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01Hazlewood's 6-49 is a career best.

02Renshaw scored 190 and 82 across both innings to win Player of the Match.

03South Africa were bowled out for 206 in their second innings, with Markram top-scoring on 75 off 237 balls.

04Steve Smith was cleared to bat and field on day five after passing concussion protocols.

05Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0, a year after losing the World Test Championship final to South Africa.

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [Australia breeze to a big win over South Africa in Durban](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/australia-breeze-to-a-big-win-over-south-africa-in-durban?ref=bushletter.com)
2. [Steve Smith concussion check protocol, day four match report](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4591082/steve-smith-anrich-nortje-head-concussion-check-protocol-south-africa-australia-first-test-kingsmead-durban-match-report-day-four-news-scores-video-highlights-toss?ref=bushletter.com)
3. [Pacer returns as South Africa name XI for first Australia Test](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/pacer-returns-as-south-africa-name-xi-for-first-australia-test?ref=bushletter.com)
4. [Renshaw on positional switch and Player of the Match innings](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4591880/matthew-renshaw-first-test-south-africa-190-82-australia-kingsmead-positional-switch-number-five-opener-maddinson-cummins-green-cricketplus?ref=bushletter.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What were Josh Hazlewood's figures in South Africa's second innings?

Hazlewood took six wickets for 49 runs, career-best figures and his first six-wicket haul in South Africa.

Why was Matt Renshaw batting at number five instead of opening?

Australia captain Pat Cummins moved Renshaw to number five after observing his ability to play spin during the one-day series. Nic Maddinson took on an opening role in the reshuffle.

Was Steve Smith available for day five after his concussion scare?

Yes. Smith was assessed under Cricket Australia's concussion protocols after a blow to the helmet on day four and was cleared to bat and field on day five.

Where does this result leave the series?

Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Durban by 214 runs.