The much-anticipated series-opener between Australia and South Africa proved to be rather subdued, with little of the hostility that marked previous fiery contests. The first Test in Durban ended with a whimper as quick Josh Hazlewood spearheaded Australia to a crushing 214-run victory despite gritty defiance from opener Aiden Markram.

Set a record 421-run target, South Africa were bowled out for 206 in their second innings midway through the second session. Markram prolonged the resistance with 75 off 237 balls but South Africa were blown away by the second new ball, with Hazlewood doing the damage to finish with a career-best 6 for 49 off 16.5 overs.

It was sweet success for Australia, who played their first Test match in South Africa since the 2018 Sandpaper scandal. After such a tough start to their first innings after Pat Cummins won the toss, Matt Renshaw rescued Australia from his new No.5 role and they completely dominated the rest of the match.

Renshaw produced a potentially career-turning performance with scores of 190 and 82, while he also claimed two wickets in South Africa's second innings.

Australia inflicted world Test champions South Africa's first Test defeat under skipper Temba Bavuma, who entered with 11 wins and a draw from 12 matches. South Africa looked rusty with both bat and ball in their return to Test cricket since last playing in November 2025.

Markram was a shining light for South Africa after such a determined effort, where he was the ninth batter dismissed in their second innings. He averages over 60 against Australia compared to his career mark of 35.

South Africa's hopes had been raised earlier in the day's play when Markram and Wiaan Mulder combined for a 69-run fifth-wicket partnership. They showed tremendous application and stout defence to halt Australia's push until Mulder's 110-ball stonewall ended in an anti-climax when he was strangled down the leg side to Hazlewood, who picked up his third wicket of the innings.

As has been a bane for South Africa through the match, they lost another wicket in close succession when Kyle Verreynne fell in loose fashion after edging a tame delivery from Renshaw to Steven Smith, who had taken the field after passing concussion tests.

Having been wicketless from 30 deliveries in his Test career before this match, Renshaw - a part-time offspinner with 20 first-class wickets - continued his amazing Test match.

The Kingsmead surface started to play tricks on day four, but looked relatively benign in the morning session.

While chasing down a world-record fourth-innings total always looked out of the question, South Africa's main focus was to make Australia increasingly nervous and bat deep into the day. There has not been a drawn Test in South Africa since August 2016, when the first Test against New Zealand in Durban was heavily rain-affected.

Ever since declaring their second innings by tea on day four, Australia had been hoping to wrap up the Test early on day five before the unknowns of the afternoon weather. Each of the first three days ended early in the final session due to bad light amid thickening dark clouds although day four went the distance.

South Africa resumed their second innings at 102 for 4 and facing a mountain after copping a beating with bat and ball on a wretched day four. Renshaw was surprisingly handed the ball to start the day's play, hoping to continue his unbelievable match which included his first Test wicket when he dismissed Bavuma late on day four.

Markram had to start again after compiling a patient 45 not out before stumps and he was determined to kick on having succumbed on 37 to a loose drive in the first innings. It didn't take long for Markram to wave his bat to the smattering of fans after reaching his 14th Test half-century off 129 balls - the second-slowest fifty of his career. It was the first half-century of the match by a batter other than Renshaw.

A composed Markram was flawless for the first 30 minutes of the session until playing and missing a probing fuller delivery from Hazlewood. The batters were mostly intent on blunting the bowling, but they occasionally mixed things up with Mulder hitting the shot of the morning when he cover drove Hazlewood with grace and precision.

Markram capped a fine first hour for South Africa when he stroked Cummins through point for a boundary as Australia were left to ponder the situation during the drinks break. South Africa were poised to get through the session unscathed until Mulder fell in disappointing fashion before Renshaw's golden Test match continued.

Renshaw and Nic Maddinson - utilising his left-arm part-time spin - bowled after lunch as Australia waited for the second new ball. Jansen capitalised by whacking rank deliveries from Maddinson, who had been wicketless from 36 previous deliveries in his brief Test career.

Jansen whacked a returning Mitchell Starc through the covers to bring up South Africa's 200 but their flicker of hope quickly disappeared when Hazlewood proved unplayable with the new ball.

Markram's indefatigable knock ended when he inside edged Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey before Hazlewood, quite fittingly, clinched a superb Australia Test victory after dismissing Anrich Nortje.