Temba Bavuma’s dream run as Test captain finally ended on Tuesday as he suffered his first defeat in the format. Australia beat South Africa by 214 runs in the first match of the three-Test series in Durban. Bavuma, who was already the South Africa skipper with the most Tests before suffering a defeat, now holds the record with 12 matches. He is well ahead of second-placed Hashim Amla, who suffered his first defeat as Proteas captain after eight matches. With the victory, Pat Cummins-led Australia strengthened their position at the top of the World Test Championship standings with 81.82 percentage points.
On the other hand, it has cost South Africa dearly, with the side slipping to third place and New Zealand moving up to second.
The Blackcaps are in second position with 72.22 percentage points, while the Proteas’ tally has dipped to 60.00. The rest of the table remains unchanged.
Check it out here:
Josh Hazlewood took six wickets as Australia completed a comprehensive win over South Africa on the fifth day of the first Test at Kingsmead.
Fast bowler Hazlewood twice broke promising stands and finished with figures of 6 for 49.
The hosts, set 421 runs to win, were bowled out for 206 in the first Test series between the teams in South Africa since the 2018 sandpaper scandal.
Opening batter Aiden Markram defied the bowlers for one minute short of six hours, scoring 75 before he was the ninth batter out, caught behind off an inside edge from Mitchell Starc.
The last four wickets fell for five runs in the space of 16 deliveries with the second new ball.
Markram and Wiaan Mulder (29) were largely untroubled as they batted through the first 110 minutes of the day.
But a double bowling change brought two wickets.
Mulder was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Hazlewood for 29 after a 139-minute innings during which he faced 110 balls.
Man of the Match Matt Renshaw came on to bowl his off-spin in the next over and, with his first ball, dismissed Kyle Verreynne for one when the South African wicketkeeper played a forcing shot at a wide delivery and edged a catch to Steve Smith at slip.
It was the continuation of a dream match for Renshaw, who top-scored in both innings with 190 and 82 and then took his first Test wicket when he dismissed South Africa captain Temba Bavuma on Monday.
It was Smith’s fifth catch of the match in which he became the world record-holder for the most catches by a fielder in Test cricket.
Smith was back in action after being off the field at the start of South Africa’s innings on Monday following a blow to the head while batting.
Marco Jansen made 35 and added 45 with Markram before Hazlewood bowled him in the fourth over with the second new ball. Three balls later, Simon Harmer gloved a sharply rising delivery to Carey.
Australia were in trouble at 124 for six on the first day but dominated the rest of the match after Renshaw steered them to a first-innings total of 390.
(With AFP inputs)
Featured Video Of The Day
India Ends CWG Boxing Campaign With Record-Breaking Seven Gold Medals
Topics mentioned in this article
