Josh Hazlewood took a career-best 6 for 49 as Australia bowled South Africa out for 206 on the fifth day in Durban, sealing a 214-run victory and a 1-0 series lead.
Hazlewood's Career-Best Spell
The performance answered a recurring question about why Hazlewood takes precedence over Scott Boland when fit, despite Boland's impressive recent displays. Hazlewood, with a dozen years of answers behind him, provided another reminder as he overcame South African resistance.
Boland might have been influential if picked, but Hazlewood was essential as South Africa blunted his colleagues. Mitchell Starc had radar issues, showing better control around the wicket but often going too steeply across the right-handers or down the leg side over the wicket.
Breaking the Stubborn Stands
Pat Cummins bowled well but didn't produce danger in the second innings, his only blow being self-inflicted thanks to Tristan Stubbs' loose drive. Nathan Lyon got some bite but went wicketless. Three times Australia needed something from somewhere, and Hazlewood kept delivering.
It started on the fourth evening when Hazlewood bowled the perfect nip-backer length to hit David Bedingham's pad so plainly in front that the batter walked off without challenge. From 73 for 1, Australia produced a rush that made it 86 for 4.
The next morning, Aiden Markram looked immovable, and Wiaan Mulder defended with perfect compactness. After 25 overs of toil, Hazlewood brought in a leg slip while targeting the pads. Mulder wanted to flick square, but a little reverse movement kept it tailing towards leg stump. His flick became an inside edge, and Alex Carey took a one-hander diving left.
Late Strikes and Milestones
That opening allowed Matt Renshaw to get a flirty edge from Kyle Verreyne in the next over. Another 17 overs passed, and another Hazlewood spell was required, this time with a new ball. The one that nips back had the length perfect, with Marco Jansen on 35 trying to defend on the front foot, the faintest gap, and the ball through to off stump. Simon Harmer exited three balls later, edging a horrible lifter. Hazlewood had five.
At eight down in the 85th over, Markram's resolve dissolved as he inside-edged Starc in the next over, having batted two minutes shy of six hours for his 75. Hazlewood had Nortje caught at midwicket to ice the game.
In the process, he passed Fred Trueman on 307, Morne Morkel and Lance Gibbs on 309, and Brett Lee on 310, levelling Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan on 311. With three more wickets to pass Mitchell Johnson, Hazlewood would have ahead of him only Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and his three current colleagues. Fitness pending, next week could see four of Australia's top seven wicket-takers in the same team.
As in 2018, Australia leave Durban with a series lead. This time they need to keep it.
